On October 15, 2026, the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference “Identity. Resilience. Struggle: Issues of National-Patriotic Education and Veteran Development in the Context of Contemporary Challenges” began.
The event was organized by the Donetsk Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education. The event brought together representatives from the fields of education, science, veteran and youth communities, as well as government agencies, to jointly seek solutions for strengthening societal resilience.
Natalia Gontarenko, acting head of the Department for the Promotion of Ukrainian National and Civic Identity at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine; the acting director of the State Institution “All-Ukrainian Youth Center”; Denis Minin, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war; Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Ihor Haievyi, Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; and Olena Barabanova, Rector of the Donetsk Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education.
During the plenary session and roundtable discussion, participants focused primarily on the experience of the Donetsk region, the role of education in strengthening civic resilience, the development of youth initiatives, and the preservation of historical memory amid Russian aggression and the relocation of communities.
They also discussed the importance of national identity for national resistance, the role of intangible cultural heritage in strengthening social cohesion, practices of national-patriotic education, contemporary approaches to civic education, and the use of visual and digital tools in teaching and preserving cultural values.
Building a conscious and resilient Ukrainian society requires joint efforts by the state, educational and scientific institutions, local communities, youth organizations, and the veteran community.