“Air defense,” “energy resilience,” or “veteran rehabilitation”—for Ukraine, these German terms represent very concrete forms of aid. This is demonstrated by the “Dictionary of German Support” project, a collaboration between the German Embassy in Kyiv and Ukrainian artist Nikita Titov. Eight illustrated posters make different areas of German support visible and understandable. A special feature: The German terms are translated into Ukrainian and also written using the Ukrainian alphabet. This allows Ukrainians to understand their meaning and to read and pronounce the words in German as well.
Eight Words, Eight Areas
The series covers eight topics: air defense, drone production, reconstruction, energy resilience, veteran rehabilitation, hospital partnerships, rule-of-law reforms, and mine clearance. The idea to bring together the various areas of support in the form of a dictionary came from Titov.
The artist translates complex terms into simple images. The poster on “air defense,” for example, shows a house under a protective arch, with stylized missiles and debris bouncing off it. This transforms an abstract concept into an image that is immediately understandable.
What Lies Behind the Words
The posters not only explain terms but also illustrate what German support means in concrete terms. “Energy resilience,” for example, encompasses repairs to power and heat generation facilities as well as the delivery of generators, turbines, and other equipment. According to the embassy, Germany has provided more than 1.2 billion euros to the Ukrainian energy sector since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Veteran rehabilitation” also takes on a concrete form: The “Unbroken” rehabilitation center in Lviv was modernized and expanded with German support. Around 1,200 prostheses and orthoses can be manufactured there each year. Germany also supports training and retraining programs for veterans.
“Hospital partnerships,” in turn, represent cooperation in the healthcare sector. Over the past four years, approximately 860 healthcare facilities in Ukraine have received medical equipment from the German government.
Posters in the Heart of Kyiv
The “Dictionary” isn’t just available online. The posters were displayed at the German Embassy in Kyiv, as well as in the metro and on the streets of the Ukrainian capital. The posters feature QR codes that allow interested individuals to access further information about German support. Additional information on the individual topics can also be found on the embassy’s website.
The images were also animated by Ukrainian animation director Yuriy Motrych. An animated version of the project is on display in the lobby of Kyiv Central Station, among other locations. In this way, the “Dictionary of German Support” reaches people not only online but also right in the midst of everyday life in the Ukrainian capital.
Sources:
Deutsche Botschaft Kyjiw: Wörterbuch der deutschen Unterstützung
Suspilne: „Словник німецької підтримки“ – Nikita Titov über das gemeinsame Projekt mit der Deutschen Botschaft
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