The presentation of the Ukrainian History Global Initiative was held at DAU with the participation of Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University, Borys Gudziak, President of Ukrainian Catholic University, and Yaroslav Hrytsak, Professor of Ukrainian Catholic University.
The international academic project Ukrainian History Global Initiative was founded by Victor Pinchuk in 2023. Over the next three years, of around 90 researchers will work on 70 topics, each of which is designed to explore the long global history of our country. The researchers will be assisted by 26 members of the Academic Advisory Board from Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.
The project will result in a complete version of Ukraine’s history, from prehistoric times to the present day.
Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University, Permanent fellow at Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, UHGI Chair of the International Academic Advisory Council:
We are after the truth. The idea is to seek the truth, the truth about who Ukrainians are, the truth about these lands, the truth about the relationship between these lands and these peoples, other lands and other peoples. What we’re after is the how and the why, the facts and the motives of people over thousands of years with the help of our methods.
Yaroslav Hrytsak, Professor, Ukrainian Catholic University, UHGI Co-Chair of the International Academic Advisory Council:
Russian aggression against Ukraine became a turning point in European and even global history. The lack of stability and security in the region remains a significant concern, making it a key focal point in international affairs.
Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, President of Ukrainian Catholic University and UHGI Trustee:
I have a deep conviction that this project will offer proposals for scholars in different fields, in different cultures, in different countries to re-examine methodology. You know, in history, it’s always revelatory when somebody discovers a new source, when somebody describes an unknown event or corrects a date. Much more important is when scholars comes up with new methodology. And that is the particular contribution of this project. I think nobody has done history like this before.
Victor Pinchuk, UHGI Founder and Trustee, Ukrainian philanthropist and businessman:
Ukrainians are very innovative so it fits that the project explores our long history with an innovation of a cross-disciplinary, collaborative approach. And with no fear of what we find because we are free. And it is crucial that the project’s structure, processes and results are independent and trusted. Therefore, the organizational structure ensures full freedom, open dialogue, and independence for the project and its participants.
The project presentation was moderated by Nataliya Gumenyuk, UHGI Trustee, Ukrainian journalist specialized in conflict reporting, human rights, Co-Founder of Public Interest Journalism Lab.
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine presented at the event four remarkable artifacts that showcase the interconnection of Ukrainian history and culture with broader European developments. These artifacts: a Grain Storage Vessel (Early 4th millennium BCE), Situla (4th century BCE), Processional Cross (11th century), and a Sword (11th century).
To learn more about the project click: https://uhgi.org
