Commemorating Two Decades of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory
On October 19, 2023, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Alexander Mishchenko participated in a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINP). The event brought together representatives from Ukrainian government bodies, diplomatic missions, and religious leaders to emphasize the critical role of preserving historical heritage. Mishchenko stressed the urgent need to counteract Russian propaganda and historical distortions, noting that
historical memory is not just about the past but also a vital element shaping current international relations.
Key Figures at the Event
The conference featured prominent attendees such as:
- Ukraine’s third President, Viktor Yushchenko,
- Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk,
- His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius, leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Diplomatic representatives from Finland, Canada, Poland, the United Kingdom, and other nations were also present. Mishchenko expressed deep gratitude to the UINP team for their unwavering commitment and partnership with Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts:
My sincere thanks to the entire UINP team for their dedication and collaboration with Ukrainian diplomacy. Much work lies ahead to preserve our historical legacy, safeguard historical truth, and combat propaganda, falsifications, and manipulations of history by the aggressor and terrorist state—Russia.
A significant focus of the conference was the cooperation between Ukraine and Poland regarding historical memory. The joint Historical Memory Working Group between the two countries has resumed its activities, including ongoing search and exhumation projects. Additionally, the May 2023 Congress of Historians held in Baranów Sandomierski, Poland, was highlighted as a key moment in this bilateral dialogue. Mishchenko expressed his firm belief that
open historical dialogue, mutual respect, and collaborative efforts between Ukraine and Poland help resolve past disputes and strengthen trust between our fraternal nations.
The conference also addressed the controversial monument erected by Russian occupiers in Melitopol honoring Pavel Sudoplatov, the Soviet saboteur responsible for the assassination of Ukrainian liberation leader Yevhen Konovalets. This provoked strong condemnation and underscored the ongoing challenges in protecting historical memory. Under the leadership of Oleksandr Alfiorov, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory continues to play a crucial role in partnership with Ukrainian diplomacy, tirelessly working to uphold historical truth.
This gathering served as a vital platform to discuss safeguarding historical memory amid external aggression, emphasizing the increasing importance of international partnerships, especially with Poland. These initiatives reflect Ukraine’s strategic approach to shaping a positive global image by building on shared historical values and overcoming past conflicts. In the context of ongoing conflict, preserving national memory remains essential for reinforcing national identity and fostering international cooperation.