How a Berlin Radio Station Rebranded Itself After Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Masha Krichevskaja, born in Leningrad in 1972, left the Soviet Union with her family at 18 to start a new life in Germany. Now based in Berlin, she has worked for decades at a Russian-language radio station that recently underwent a major change. The station, once called Radio Russkij, was renamed Radio Golos in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Krichevskaja grew up in a Jewish family with deep cultural roots in what is now St. Petersburg—a city she still calls the most beautiful in the world. Yet, because of Russia's actions, she no longer encourages people to visit. In 1990, her family emigrated to Germany, where she later studied German and English at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf.
Since 1997, she has lived in Berlin, working as an editor at Radio Russkij, a station originally aimed at Russian-speaking listeners seeking entertainment. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Berlin Media Authority ordered the station's renaming to Radio Golos—a deliberate stand against the war. The decision was not taken lightly, but it marked a shift in the station's identity.
Today, Radio Golos serves a much broader audience, including Russians, Russian-Germans, Georgians, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Ukrainians. Its programming has expanded beyond music and entertainment to offer practical advice on asylum applications, residence permits, citizen's income, and finding housing. The station now plays a key role in supporting Ukrainian refugees settling in Germany.
The rebranding of Radio Russkij to Radio Golos reflects its evolving mission under Krichevskaja's involvement. The station continues broadcasting in Russian but now focuses on helping a diverse, multicultural community navigate life in Germany. Its new direction provides essential resources while maintaining a connection to Russian-language culture.
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