On the eve of Ukrainian Statehood Day, the Donetsk Regional Museum of Local History held a round-table discussion on the theme: ‘The Ukrainian State: People, Ideas, Actions’. The event brought together museum staff, local historians, cultural workers, academics and public figures to re-examine the historical experience of state-building and identify new directions for work in the face of contemporary challenges.
Knowledge of the fundamental principles underlying the formation and development of our state is a powerful force against the manipulation of historical facts in the context of Ukraine’s War of Independence. The true history refutes the falsehoods of Russian propaganda, which claims that Ukrainians and Russians are one people, and that Ukraine is an artificial, unviable state. Therefore, our current resistance to the aggressor is not only a struggle for the future of our state, but also for its past, national statehood and identity.
The round-table discussion focused on state-building processes in Ukraine – from their historical origins to their contemporary interpretation in the context of the War for Independence. The speakers’ presentations aroused considerable interest among participants due to the relevance of the topics raised, the in-depth analysis of historical experience, and contemporary approaches to building and strengthening Ukrainian statehood.
The meeting proved to be an effective step towards deepening understanding of the continuity of our nation-building processes – from Kievan Rus’ to modern-day Ukraine – and demonstrated that the defence and development of statehood are based, in particular, on knowledge of our history and the preservation of historical memory.
According to information from the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration