23 of March marks a historic milestone as the Ukrainische Freie Universität – Український Вільний Університет, in collaboration with prestigious German academic partners, officially opened the ?????? ?????? ????: “????????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ??-??? ???????.”
Today marks a historic milestone as the Ukrainische Freie Universität – Український Вільний Університет, in collaboration with prestigious German academic partners, officially opened the ?????? ?????? ????: “????????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ??-??? ???????.”
The air in the Aula was filled with a sense of profound responsibility and solidarity. As we enter the 5th year of the full-scale invasion (and the 13th year of Russian aggression), this week is not just about academic discourse – it is about the preservation of the Ukrainian spirit.
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The event began with a warm welcome from UFU Chancellor Dmytro Shevchenko, who provided a roadmap for the intensive week ahead.
Prof. Dr. Larysa Didkovska (Лариса Дідковська), Rector of UFU, delivered a moving keynote. She reminded us that for over a century, UFU has been a “lighthouse” for those forced to leave their homeland.
“????????? ?? ??? ???? ????????. ???? ??? ‘????????? ??????’ ?? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????, ?? ????? ??? ? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?????????. ????????? ?? ? ????? ?? ????, ???, ??? ?? ?? ???? ? ????? ?? ????????????? ??????.”
Voices of partnership and heritage from Prof. Dr. Jana Osterkamp (Bukowina-Institut an der Universität Augsburg), Dr. Habil. Alexander Kratochvil (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), and Prof. Dr. Guido Hausmann (Think Space Ukraine / Universität Regensburg / IOS Regensburg) further strengthened the collaborative spirit. The morning sessions were capped by encouraging words from Consul General (Generalkonsulat der Ukraine in München) Yurii Nykytiuk, who emphasized the importance of engaging the diaspora in Ukraine’s eventual rebuilding.
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Following the opening, the academic program dived into the complex history and urgent contemporary reality of Ukrainian migration:
▪️????????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ??????: ??. ?????? ????? (Universität Wien) and ??. ?????. ????????? ?????????? (LMU Munich) explored the thriving cultural life Ukrainian émigrés built in Prague between the world wars.
▪???????? ??? ?????????: ??. ?????? ????????? (Think Space Ukraine) led a critical seminar on the challenges of teaching Ukrainian in Germany, focusing on the pedagogical strategies needed for the hundreds of thousands of forcedly displaced Ukrainian students.
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The first day concluded with a gripping Round Table featuring Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (ViolavonCramon) (former MEP). Her address was a masterclass in political honesty:
▪️??? ??-???? ???: She corrected the narrative, reminding us that the war began in 2014. She criticized the “strategic arrogance” of Western leaders who ignored warnings from the Baltics and Poland.
▪??? “??????? ?? ????”: Viola spoke candidly about how the “nuclear card” was used to delay vital military support.
▪???????? ??????: She emphasized that EU integration is merit-based. “You don’t do these reforms for the EU; you do them for yourselves.”
“?? ????? ????????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????, ??? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????: ? ????, ???????? ???????.”
Text by Dr. Liliia Bondarenko
