June 22 marked the 95th anniversary of the birth of Hennadii Yosypovych Udovenko—an outstanding Ukrainian diplomat, statesman, President of the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly, and one of the founders of Ukraine’s modern diplomatic service.
To mark the occasion, a memorial event was held at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, which bears Hennadii Udovenko’s name, attended by colleagues, friends, students, and like-minded associates of this master of Ukrainian diplomacy. The day began with the laying of flowers at Hennadii Yosypovych’s grave at the Baikove Cemetery.
Opening the gathering at the Academy, Director Ihor Ostash emphasized Hennadii Udovenko’s special role in the recent history of Ukrainian statehood and diplomacy.
“For the young, independent Ukraine, Hennadii Yosypovych’s election as President of the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly was not only a personal achievement for the diplomat but also recognition of a sovereign state that had just made its mark on the international stage. His international standing and diplomatic experience helped strengthen Ukraine’s position in forums where issues concerning its security and future were being decided,” noted Ihor Ostash.
Participants in the event remembered Hennadii Udovenko as a world-class diplomat, a wise mentor, a principled statesman, and a person who made a significant contribution to shaping the foreign policy course of independent Ukraine. Former Ukrainian Foreign Ministers Volodymyr Ohryzko and Borys Tarasyuk, as well as Ukrainian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Valery Tsybukh, Ihor Kharchenko, Volodymyr Yelchenko, Anatoliy Dron, Yuriy Kostenko, Oleg Skoropad, Oleksandr Slipchenko, Volodymyr Yatsenkivsky, and other colleagues and followers of Hennadii Yosypovych.
Liubov Abravitova, Director of the Department of Africa and Regional African Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, specifically highlighted Hennadii Udovenko’s significant contribution to the fight against apartheid. As Vice-Chair of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid and later President of the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly, Hennadii Udovenko was among those Ukrainian diplomats who actively defended the rights of the peoples of Africa and supported their struggle for freedom and equality.
A particularly touching moment of the event was a video message from his great-granddaughter, Alisa Baranovska, which symbolized the continuity across generations and the preservation of the family’s memory of this distinguished diplomat.
In his remarks, Ihor Ostash also emphasized the importance of preserving the professional legacy of Ukrainian diplomacy:
“The greatest value of any diplomatic service is not buildings, not positions, and not even documents. It is the people and the experience they pass on to future generations.”
That is why, during the meeting, the Diplomatic Guild was launched—a platform designed to bring together representatives of different generations of the diplomatic service to preserve institutional memory, develop mentorship, and strengthen the traditions of the Ukrainian diplomatic school.
The Academy’s director called on everyone who knew Hennadii Udovenko to contribute to the preparation of a book of memoirs about him. After all, as Ihor Ostash noted, a true portrait of a person consists not only of positions and awards, but first and foremost of the personal stories and memories of those who worked alongside him.
The memory of Hennadii Udovenko remains an important part of the Ukrainian diplomatic tradition, and his life’s journey and the principle of the “Three Ps”—Professionalism, Patriotism, and Integrity—continue to inspire new generations of diplomats to serve Ukraine.