On May 21, we celebrate the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity for the first time, an important public holiday established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine in December 2024.
This is a special day to honor the contribution of national communities and indigenous peoples to Ukraine's cultural diversity, historical heritage and common future. The slogan of this year's celebration is “Everyone has their own voice, but we have one heart”, which reflects the value of our unity, especially in times of war and challenges.
On this occasion, an online lecture-discussion “National and Cultural Diversity of Donetsk Region: Historical Context” was organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration and the Donetsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. The event brought together specialists, researchers and interested listeners who sought to better understand the historical background of the formation of the multinational space of Donetsk region.
The speaker at the event was Ihor Karetnikov, PhD in History and a researcher at the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (Kyiv). In his report, he highlighted key aspects of the region's ethnic diversity, including the historical factors that contributed to the formation of the multinational population of Donetsk region, the influence of different ethnic communities on the cultural and social development of the region, and the role of national and cultural diversity in shaping a unique regional identity.
After the lecture, the participants had the opportunity to join the discussion, share their thoughts and experiences on interethnic relations in Donetsk region. Particular attention was paid to the role of cultural institutions and museums in preserving and promoting the region's ethnic heritage.
The event became a platform for knowledge exchange and contributed to a deeper understanding of the multicultural character of Donetsk region, which is relevant in the context of building a Ukrainian civil nation.