The Ukrainian Scientific Institute was founded in Berlin 100 years ago – in response to a shortfall whose effects are still felt today: the lack of an independent field of Ukrainian studies in Germany. On 10 November 2026 the discussion with historians and scholars of Ukrainian studies from Germany and Ukraine will touch upon what has changed since then and where the gaps from that time persist today.
The focus will be on two time periods: the founding and historical impact of the UWI in Berlin in the 1920s and 1930s as an academic, political and diaspora institution – and the current state of Ukrainian studies in Germany: academic chairs, support for early-career researchers, and research infrastructure. What has really changed since 1926?
When? 10 November 2026, 6–8 pm (followed by an informal get-together until 9 pm)
Where? Hybrid: UnityHub Berlin (Jägerstraße 54, 10117 Berlin-Mitte) & online
Language: Ukrainian and German (with interpretation)
Registration under the link
Online participation via Zoom is possible – you will receive the link with your registration confirmation prior to the event.
Opening remarks:
- A representative of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Germany (to be confirmed)
- Prof. Dr Susanne Frank (Head of the Department of East Slavic Literatures and Cultures, Institute for Slavic and Hungarian Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin)
Panellists:
- Dr Dmytro Burim — Historian at the M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archaeography and Source Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv (online)
- Natalja Böhm — PhD candidate, Mykola Haievoi Centre for Modern History, LM
- Dr Olesia Lazarenko — Lecturer in Ukrainian, Language Centre at the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder)/Coordinator of the DUAG Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Group
- Dr Susann Worschech — Academic Coordinator of the KIU Competence Network for Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies, Frankfurt (Oder) (online)
- Veronika Weisheimer — PhD candidate, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder)
- Prof. Dr Alexander Wöll — Professor of Literature and Culture of Central and Eastern Europe at the University of Potsdam and, since 2008, Chair of the German Association of Ukrainianists (DAU).
Moderator: Oleksandra Bienert (PhD student at HU Berlin / Chair of CineMova Ukrainian Empowerment Network e.V.)
Organised by CineMova Ukrainian Empowerment Network e.V., in collaboration with the German-Ukrainian Academic Society e.V. (DUAG).