Not often someone wants to interview his own sister. As it happens though, both of us are people with great intellectual ambitions. Which are somewhat different, but always vivid. Rarely do we have the time to talk face to face: living in different cities doesn’t help. Wide audiences are lucky that we have the inspiration for virtual talks!
AV: Hello, Yulia!
YS: Hello!
AV: Please introduce yourself to those people who are completely unaware of your person and let’s get started.
YS: My name is Yulia Sidorova. Call sign – Cuba. Prominent participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Volunteer. Emergency medical technician. War veteran, who spent five years of her life in the war zone. Civil activist. Lately philanthropist as well. I’m helping ill kids who have various disabilities. Beginning fashion designer. Currently actively learning this trade and planning to present my first collection at Ukrainian Fashion Week in February of the upcoming year. After which I intend to create my own brand of clothing – CUBABUBA (mix of call sign and name of her dachshund – interviewer’s note). I already work on this brand for no less than two years.
AV: What is the main motivation for your social activities? What do you wish to achieve?
YS: I wish to achieve justice. Which doesn’t exist. That’s why tasks in my activities are endless.
AV: Which memories about Maidan and the frontlines do you treasure the most? If you could turn back time all the way to 2014, what would you do similarly, and what differently?
YS: It is difficult to say which memories are most important. Such events in life allow us to understand what is truly valuable and what exists as attributes of our ordinariness. I think I’d do most things similarly. Perhaps I’d trust people slightly less. And wouldn’t pedestalize unworthy people.
AV: While you still lived in Kharkiv, there was a depiction of some Hinduist goddess on the wall of your room. Was that just a souvenir from India or do you have some sympathies towards this faith? How would you describe your religious convictions?
YS: I am not a religious person. But if I was forced to be one, I’d probably choose Hinduism. I like its great multitude of Gods and ability to choose the one you like best. Freedom of choice is always attractive.
AV: You have traveled across many countries of the world. Which country you liked best and why?
YS: Difficult choice. Let it be the United States. I liked everything there. Both nature and cities with skyscrapers. Their people. I was happy to learn that myth about the bad quality of their food is just a myth. As a person who hasn’t eaten meat for more than ten years, I dreaded eating at fast food joints.
AV: I know that journalists once asked you about your somewhat marginal, favorable attitude to erotica. Do you feel any pressure from your circles regarding your views on nudity?
YS: Don’t recall such talk with journalists. In some cases, I indeed felt it, while I was still on the front. This wasn’t the only problem though, as I was called out for my favorable stance towards LGBT. But I wouldn’t use the term marginal here.
AV: Name three films, books, and songs that are most important to you.
YS: Now this is a hard one. Regarding films and books alike. I was reading a lot during the war. Now I do it a lot less, which is not good. I can single out a book of poems “Antena” by Sergiy Zhadan (currently the most popular Ukrainian writer - interviewer’s note) because it contains a poem which he dedicated to me. I appreciated that. Similarly, among the songs, I shall choose just “Save Me, Sister!” by Oleksandr Polozhynsky (embedded at the end of article - interviewer’s note). Once again, he confessed that it is I who inspired him to begin writing this song. How can it be unimportant to me? Regarding the other influences, it is possible to write an overly long list and get lost in the levels of importance. When someone makes a film about me I will surely share its name with you!
AV: What is your premonition regarding the future of our country and the world in general?
YS: Everything will be alright. The world never knew a period completely devoid of wars. Or of people doing murders, robberies, and other bad deeds. But the world exists and will continue to exist. I believe that there is a bright future awaiting our country. No matter how sad is the current situation.
AV: Which relationships deserve protecting no matter what, and when it is acceptable to raise a ruckus and speak in ultimatums?
YS: It is important to protect relationships with love, regardless of the forms in which it manifests. If there is love, then ruckuses and ultimatums should be avoided, as they are able to destroy it. Another matter is that we can’t control ourselves and behave correctly all the time. Even when we want to do so. We know what should be done but are doing quite the opposite.
AV: Whom would you like to see on the pages of my blog, when speaking about people you know? Which questions would you suggest asking?
YS: It is always interesting to read and listen to intellectual personas, people with their life story. The aforementioned Zhadan and Polozhynsky fit this description quite well. Among the women, the most interesting modern phenomenon is probably Yana Zinkevych. Regarding the questions, I think each one deserves individual treatment, based on biography. I can’t advise anything here.
AV: Thanks for the answers and until the next time!
YS: Don’t mention it! Until we meet again.
P.S. Those who wish to continue following Yulia’s life can do so at Facebook or Instagram.