Historical memory is an essential part of national identity and a fundamental right of every people to self-determination. It shapes who we are — and who we aspire to become. For decades, Russia has systematically tried to erase Ukrainian historical memory: to wipe out the traumas of famines, wars, and repressions along with those who carry them; to appropriate our past and subsume it into the narrative of the “great Russian culture”; to replace truth with myths about “liberators” and the notion of “one people.” This propaganda laid the groundwork for Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and served as a tool to legitimise its imperial ambitions in the eyes of the world. Today, as we continue to defend our independence, reclaim our history, and learn to cherish it, Ukrainians in the occupied territories are once again being forced to adopt a foreign identity.
How has Russia turned its version of history into a weapon — and how can we resist it? How has Ukrainian national identity evolved over more than thirty years of independence? What should Ukraine’s humanitarian policy look like regarding restoring and preserving historical truth? And how can we prevent further ruptures in our historical continuity?
Speakers:
Volodymyr Viatrovych, historian, People's Deputy of Ukraine
Vladlen Maraiev, historian, local history expert, senior researcher at the Research Center for Humanitarian Issues of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and co-author of the YouTube channel History Without Myths
Tetiana Oharkova, literary scholar, essayist, and head of the international department at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre (UCMC)
