Victoria Starchenko is a radio host, TV presenter, journalist, and producer. In March 2022, just under a month after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, she became the host of Rádio Comercial Ucrânia (Commercial Radio Ukraine), where she worked for almost a year.
Victoria, less than a month after the start of the war, you became the host of Rádio Comercial Ucrânia. How did the idea of creating the radio come about? How did you get involved?
With the onset of the war in February 2022, the popular Portuguese radio station Rádio Comercial decided to somehow assist Ukraine. At that time, many Portuguese associations were already collecting humanitarian aid and sending it to Ukraine. Rádio Comercial chose to help in a different way: Portugal has had a sizable Ukrainian community for many years. Understanding that many Ukrainians would come here to their relatives in search of a safe place away from the conflict, the radio management decided to help them informatively. Hence, they created an online radio and named it Rádio Comercial Ucrânia (Commercial Radio Ukraine). Within just 5 days, a studio was set up, various online platforms were established, and everything necessary for starting operations was prepared. Marcus Fernandes, who was working at Rádio Comercial at the time, became the host of this Ukrainian online radio. I saw the news about this incredible project on the internet and decided to send an email to the radio to express my gratitude for such an initiative. I also offered my assistance, if needed. I remember sending the email with my resume at 6 PM on a Friday, stating that I am proficient in both Portuguese and Ukrainian, so I could be of help to them. The next day, on Saturday, they called me from the editorial office, and on Monday, March 14, I went for an interview where I received an offer to become a radio host alongside Marcus. The management decided that from the beginning, the concept of our live broadcasts would include various short segments lasting 2-3 minutes: advice from a psychologist (such as dealing with stress), legal assistance (how to obtain temporary protection, whom to contact for such matters), and of course, Ukrainian music. The broadcasts were intended to be bilingual. On March 16, we went live for the first time. I remember that on this day, we received a surprise from the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He recorded a video message in support of the radio and all Ukrainians. We aired the audio and shared the video with Ukrainian subtitles on social media.
Before joining the radio, you had several years of experience in journalism, particularly in television. Could you share your journey in the profession? How did your career start, and how challenging was it to transition from being “on-screen” to working “behind the scenes”?
The transition was indeed challenging, but it presented a unique opportunity for me. My path in television began over 20 years ago back in my home country, Ukraine, while I was still in school. At the age of 14, I worked for the local television station in Izium, where I be the host and author of the program “School Life.” However, when I moved to Portugal at the age of 16, I had to put my dream of becoming a journalist on hold. I understood the need to learn the language in my new country, so I didn’t expect to continue my journalistic journey quickly. I even enrolled in a local university for international relations.
After some time, when I became proficient in the Portuguese language, I saw a casting call for a television project on national television. They were looking for a host from post-Soviet countries. Without hesitation, I sent my resume, went through the casting process, and became the first Ukrainian to work on Portuguese television. I traveled around the country, showcasing interesting traditional places and presenting Portugal through the eyes of a Ukrainian. However, after 3.5 years, due to personal circumstances, I had to move to Italy, where I once again put my journalism career on hold. After a few years, I returned to Portugal and re-entered the television industry, but in a different role—this time as the program director for children aged 6 to 12.
What was the real challenge for you when you started working in radio?
Firstly, on the radio, I had to host live broadcasts every day. I had never worked in live broadcasts before, so, of course, in the beginning, I was quite nervous to ensure everything went smoothly. However, the greater fear was the need to discuss the war. Not only because it was an immensely responsible topic, but also because I had to provide not only information but also support—moral, psychological, and informational. It was challenging for me, especially because at that time, the war had just begun, and like every Ukrainian, I was personally affected. Like every Ukrainian, I forgot what it was like to sleep normally, to live without a phone. I had to constantly read and not miss any news. I tried to find truthful information from all possible sources to share it on Portuguese radio.
The responsibility was further intensified by the fact that it was an online radio, and I understood that people from different countries around the world were listening to us. When, after the first month of work, we received statistics, we were pleasantly surprised: we reached an audience of 20 thousand people in 25 countries. At that time, the job occupied almost all of my time because there were only two of us working on the radio. Every day, we not only hosted broadcasts from 8 to 11 in the morning, but a significant part of our work was also outside the broadcasts—preparation, interview recordings, and more. Later, another Portuguese colleague joined us, who delivered the news, and I translated them into Ukrainian.
Tell me more about the various interviews you conducted during your time at the radio. Were there famous people, as well as ordinary Ukrainians and Portuguese, who stood out to you the most?
From the very beginning, we invited speakers from various government institutions, organizations, and associations that were already working directly with Ukrainians arriving in Portugal. Our task was to inform the Portuguese audience about how they could help Ukrainians. These were very informative interviews, with phone numbers and email addresses provided for assistance. For example, there were representatives from banks who explained where and how Ukrainians could open a bank account. Representatives from real estate agencies and associations helped Ukrainians find housing, both for free and for a nominal fee. There were representatives from organizations that helped address people’s medical issues, as it was understood that some immigrants might have serious health conditions, such as diabetes. It was crucial to inform them where they could receive specific assistance. So initially, these were very important, informative interviews.
Later on, I personally started reaching out to my contacts in the Ukrainian show business, as I had worked with many people in that industry before the war. For example, with Alan Badoev, with whom I had the opportunity to work when he came to Portugal to shoot music videos. At that time, I asked Ukrainian singers to record short words of support, and some started giving interviews via Zoom. Many people responded positively. One of the first to give an interview via Zoom was Volodymyr Ostapchuk, whom I personally admire as a TV presenter. Later on, I managed to record interviews with the actors of Kvartal 95, singers Alina Pash, Anna Trincher, KOLA, ALYOSHA, Michelle Andrade, CHEEV, LAUD, YAKTAK, Taras Topolia, and the bands Kalush Orchestra and BAHROMA.
While here in Portugal, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Ukrainian music video director Leonid Kolosovsky. Later on, we began inviting people to the studio who had already come to Portugal: they shared their extraordinary stories of starting their lives from scratch in a foreign country, how they began to achieve something, and create their Ukrainian businesses. These were inspiring stories of Ukrainians in a new country for them. So, through these interviews, we wanted to show that there are motivational stories, that people should not be afraid, they should take risks, and even without knowing the language, they can achieve certain successes. There were also inspiring stories of Portuguese individuals: personally, I was deeply impressed by the singer Salvador Sobral. In 2017, he won the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv. When the war started, he was one of the first to support Ukrainians at various rallies and even sang Ukrainian songs outside the Russian Embassy in Lisbon. Such stories are truly impressive.
As far as I know, the Rádio Comercial Ucrânia project existed for almost a year in Portugal. Why did it come to an end?
Yes, indeed, the project lasted for 10 months: it was initiated on March 16, 2022, and the last time we went live was on December 30, 2022. It was a social project. When Rádio Comercial started it, no sponsors were invited. Later, three sponsors expressed their willingness to contribute to such a charitable cause, but we didn’t even mention them in our broadcasts. I can say that the radio ceased its operations because our mission was accomplished. The goal was to support Ukrainians who had come 4,000 kilometers at that time, provide them with moral and psychological assistance, and more. I am convinced that we succeeded in this: our people understood they were not alone; they were awaited, as evidenced by the creation of Ukrainian radio.
Let me share another interesting fact: Rádio Comercial Ucrânia has become and continues to be a case study at a Portuguese journalism university; they study it as a phenomenon. A university professor used to come to our radio broadcasts, conduct interviews with us, and now she is working on her dissertation related to the existence of Rádio Comercial Ucrânia.
What did you start doing after completing the Rádio Comercial Ucrânia project?
After the conclusion of the Rádio Comercial Ucrânia project, I became involved in various charitable festivals and events aimed at supporting Ukraine. These events focused on fundraising and humanitarian aid, and I hosted them in both Ukrainian and Portuguese.
One such event was “+380: Ligar à Ucrânia” at the Belém Cultural Center, where Salvador Sobral, the Eurovision winner, participated. During this event, we established a live connection with Lviv.
I also hosted the charity event “Life Will Win” in Cascais, featuring performers like Kvartal 95, Tina Karol, Monatik, Pianoбой, Wellboy, as well as several Portuguese artists.
Another charitable event, “Connect For Ukraine,” was dedicated to Ukraine’s Independence Day. This festival lasted for four days, featuring Ukrainian stars like Oleksandr Ponomariov, Mykhailo Homa (Dzidzio), Anna Trincher, KOLA, alongside Portuguese and Brazilian artists.
I participated in the charitable music festival “Felizonda” in Lagos, southern Portugal, where Ukrainian stars such as Oleg Skrypka, the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine, jazz singer Laura Marti, and bands from Portugal, France, and the UK took part.
Apart from concerts and festivals, I also joined the Gala Dinner for Ukraine, organized by Elvira Havrylova, a constant supporter of Ukraine. This charity event took place in Lisbon and featured performances by Nadya Dorofeeva, Michel Andrade, and Portuguese singer Syro.
I had the opportunity to host several charity auctions, including the Antytila band’s auction in Lisbon and a charity auction at Artem Pivovarov’s concert in Paris.
It’s worth mentioning two more charity football tournaments, “Football for Victory,” where funds were raised to support our soldiers, as well as the opening of the Young Business Club branch in Lisbon. I continue to be invited to similar events, and I willingly agree because the war is ongoing, and there’s a sense that the world has grown somewhat tired of the conflict in Ukraine. Therefore, it’s crucial to constantly remind and draw the attention of the entire civilized world to the fact that Ukraine still needs assistance on its path to victory over the aggressor.
I am convinced that at such events, people not only have the opportunity to help Ukraine but also get acquainted with Ukrainian culture, music, and see how diverse, modern, European, and contemporary it is. Secondly, these events often feature markets where visitors can taste Ukrainian cuisine, purchase Ukrainian embroidered shirts or souvenirs, and thereby contribute to the army or humanitarian aid.
I also continue to work extensively with Ukrainian artists who come from Portugal. For example, I collaborated with the organizers of the concert for the band KALUSH ORCHESTRA in Lisbon. A few months ago, I worked with CNN Portugal, assisting in organizing an interview with Artem Pivovarov in Porto.
I have been helping many Ukrainian artists and continue to assist them in appearing in Portuguese media when they come here. I’m glad to serve as a kind of “guide” and “bridge” between the Portuguese and Ukrainian sides.
Victoria, you have a tremendous amount of experience in radio, television, and various charitable projects. Lately, your work has been particularly associated with the war. However, we all hope that the war will end as soon as possible. And for you, it will be a new stage not only in life but also in your profession. Do you know what you would like to do afterward? What projects do you have planned for the future?
My television career here started with me sharing, through the eyes of a Ukrainian, how I see Portugal. When I began working on the radio, I spoke to Ukrainians about Portugal in the Ukrainian language. In the projects I participated in, there was a combination of two countries, two cultures, two languages, and two peoples. Indeed, the Portuguese and Ukrainian peoples are like brothers to me, and both cultures are very close to my heart. So, I would like to continue doing this. Even if the war ends tomorrow, there will still be many Ukrainians living here. And the Portuguese will become increasingly interested in our culture.
I think an interesting format could be interviews with various Portuguese and Ukrainians. Perhaps this could become a popular format for podcasts or YouTube programs. Surely, it would be a great way to combine two cultures. Currently, I am open to various journalistic projects because it is what I know how to do, what I excel at, and what I love. Sometimes, I feel like I was born to be a journalist. Journalism is very diverse, with various formats, and I am a creative person. So, I am confident that I can unfold my potential in many more exciting projects.
