TV presenter Alexey Sukhanov shared his feelings in an open interview about the end of one of the most significant projects in his professional career — the talk show 'Govorit Ukraina', which aired on the 'Ukraina' channel from 2012 to 2022. Over 11 years, the program became far more than a working project; in the host's own words, it was "the most important project of my life" and a "child" he watched grow, like a close person. Sukhanov does not hide that he experienced the show's closure extremely painfully, comparing the experience to losing part of his own family.
A Platform for Change, Not Just a Broadcast
In the conversation, Sukhanov emphasized that 'Govorit Ukraina' was, above all, a tool for social expression for him. "It was, first and foremost, a platform on which I expressed my vision of what needed to be done to change our lives," the TV presenter explained. It was precisely this stance — not merely telling stories, but striving for justice and drawing attention to situations that might otherwise go unnoticed — that defined the format and tone of the program throughout its existence. Sukhanov stresses that every hero's story was authentic, and the team genuinely helped people improve their lives.
Why the Project Was Unpopular with "Officials, Bureaucrats, and Clergy"
According to the host, it was the program's social focus and critical stance that caused dissatisfaction among representatives of the authorities and the church. "That is exactly why our platform was never liked by officials, bureaucrats, and clergy," Sukhanov stated. He does not reveal specific incidents but points out that pressure on the project was systemic and tied to its mission — to speak about problems that, in the team's view, needed change. This approach made the show one of the few in Ukrainian television where social broadcasting was not a decoration but the foundation of the format.
"This Was Our Family": The Team as Part of Life
Sukhanov admits that he regarded the 'Govorit Ukraina' crew as a family, and the project itself as an important part of his own life. "Social broadcasting, 11 years. It was a blow. It was our family," he says, not hiding his emotional attachment. He describes the program's closure with words usually used to describe the loss of a loved one: "It was a blow, because it was a child to me." For a host who devoted more than a decade to the project, its end became not just a professional but a deeply personal event.
The Lasting Result: The Living Stories of the Heroes
Despite the pain of the closure, Sukhanov does not regret the years lived and emphasizes that the main result of the team's work is the people whose lives were changed. "And I can tell you that every story was real, truthful, and we helped many of them," the TV presenter assured. He notes that even to this day he occasionally hears news about former heroes of the program and sees how "their life has blossomed and how a person enjoys, and above all — lives." It is precisely these living stories, according to Sukhanov, that remain for him the main outcome of 11 years on air and confirmation that social broadcasting is capable of influencing reality, not merely filling the screen.
