The Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series History

Foreword

Sergey Litovchenko — 2026-03-20

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The Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology: The History of Self-Reflection

Sergiy Posokhov — 2026-03-20

The paper discusses the study of the history of the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, established in 1964 as the first department of this kind in Ukraine. Particular attention is given to historiographical reflection, in such forms as specialized articles, bio-bibliographic indexes, memoirs, and biographical works about members of the department. The initial stage of reflection was associated with the name of Yu. Yo. Zhuravsky, who in the 1970s to early 1990, together with colleagues in the department and in other subdivisions of the Faculty of History, pioneered research on the past of historical education and scholarship at the university. The late 1980s saw the appearance of the first bibliography of works by the teaching and research staff of the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology. Since then, such publications have become a regular occurrence. To mark the 60th anniversary of the department, a book-length bibliography was produced covering the period from 2004 to 2024. Together, these bibliographic studies form a database that makes it possible to analyze certain quantitative indicators and thematic range of research, and to identify network connections. Even a cursory overview of the existing bibliographic indexes shows the high productivity of the department. The paper also touches on memoirs and biographical works about professors of the department. All these texts, diverse as they are in focus and genre, help both to trace a continuity of tradition and research practice and to register innovations, as well as to grasp the department’s distinctive creative spirit and understand the role of particular individuals in its formation. The periodization method helps detect trends in the evolution of the department. In particular, the author draws attention to 1978, the mid-1990s, and 2015, marking them as turning points in the history of the department. Concluding remarks express concern regarding the continuing erosion of disciplinary boundaries in historical scholarship and elimination of departmental specialization over the last decade. The author, however, finds hope in the recent emergence of certain positive trends.

Archival Science at the Department of Historigraphy, Source Studies, and Archaeology of Kharkiv University, Late 20th to First Quarter of the 21st Centuries

Olha Vovk — 2026-03-20

The paper surveys the work of the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology at the Faculty of History of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in the field of archival science during the late 20th and first quarter of the 21st centuries. The author considers such key areas as teaching, research and its organization, and popularization. The importance of archival science for the training of professional historians is underscored. The paper discusses the role of the department as a graduating authority for the specialization in archival science, describing its general and specialized course offerings and the system of student practical training. It is emphasized that, despite the recent changes in the nomenclature of specializations that separated education in archival science and history, the department remains the base for teaching courses in archival science, managing hands-on training and internships, and organizing study trips abroad and student exchanges. The paper lists the partner archival organizations the department has been working with for the past several decades and surveys the publication activity of the department’s research and teaching staff in the field of archival science, with a focus on support and encouragement for young researchers. Particular attention is given to the operation of the department during the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War, and to its contribution to the preservation and further enlargement of archival heritage. The author notes the participation of members of the department in the work of advisory bodies consulting central and local archives, as well as their service in professional associations. The paper describes the regular involvement of the teaching staff and students in events marking the Day of Archival Workers through the organization of exhibitions of archival documents and thematic round tables. It is argued that the department has established itself as a powerful center of archival science not only at the regional, but also at the national level.

Institutional Communication Between Dnipro and Kharkiv in the Field of Historiography

Oleh Zhurba — 2026-03-20

The essay contributes to our understanding of the development of historiographical studies in the last quarter of the 20th and first quarter of the 21st centuries through the exploration of academic communication between the historiographers and historiographical research establishments of Kharkiv and Dnipro. The author employs quantitative analysis of the collections of research papers periodically published by the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archival Science of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU) and Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (KhNU). From 1975 to 2022, the DNU department produced 28 such collections, featuring 21 articles by colleagues from Kharkiv. From 1995 to 2018, the KhNU department published 17 issues of the Kharkiv Historiographical Collection, which included 36 contributions by Dnipro historiographers. Three distinct periods of cooperation can be identified based on the dynamics of communication. The first period (mid-1970s to mid-1990s) was marked by a low level of interaction, limited to sporadic contacts and publications. Only the Dnipropetrovsk historiographical collection was in existence at that time, and scholars in both departments looked primarily towards Union-level research hubs. The second period (mid-1990s to mid-2010s) represents the peak of Kharkiv-Dnipro communication, as both of these regional historiographical centers entered their most productive era, marked by the development of two powerful cohorts of researchers, the appearance of the Kharkiv Historiographical Collection, and the establishment of both departmental periodicals as authoritative platforms for historiographical scholarship. Regular colloquiums were held, dedicated to the memory of the prominent scholars V. I. Astakhov and M. P. Kovalsky. The third period, starting in the mid-2010s, coincided with a time of trial for the nation, which, combined with non-stop reforms in higher education, led to a notable decline in historiographical studies. Regular academic gatherings and the publication of historiographical collections ceased, the department at DNU was closed, and the Kharkiv historiographers sustained significant losses. Under such conditions, institutional communication gives way to personal contact.

Educating History Teachers at the Faculty of History, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

Viktoriia Ivashchenko — 2026-03-20

The paper analyzes the professional education of teachers at the Faculty of History of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in the period from the mid-20th to first quarter of the 21st centuries, with a focus on theoretical and practical training in close official and unofficial cooperation with secondary schools. The theoretical education of future teachers comprises both general courses and specialized course offerings that change in accordance with changing educational priorities. Particular attention is given to the role of the discipline “Methodology of History Teaching in Secondary School” and the formats of hands-on teaching experience offered to bachelor’s and master’s students today. The study examines the organization and content of this training, which makes it possible to trace the evolution of pedagogical education within a classical university model. The paper surveys the evolution of pedagogical education at the classical university, identifies the key factors of its effectiveness and prospects for its future development, and considers institutional practices for the formation of students’ pedagogical competencies and mechanisms for adapting educational programs to societal changes and challenges. It is noted that the Faculty of History has been able to preserve the systematic nature of pedagogical education in the face of the transformational developments and extreme challenges of the pandemic and war. The study shows that the success of educating new generations of history teachers is ensured by a set of interrelated factors: close interaction with secondary schools, involvement of school teachers in the educational process and extracurricular activities, flexibility in responding to shifts in educational policy, and combination of traditional and innovative teaching methods. It is also important to ensure opportunities for faculty to do original research in the field of teaching methodology and for students to develop their research competencies. Promising areas for improvement in pedagogical education are identified, in particular the creation of inclusive educational platforms that would bring together universities and secondary schools to work on shared projects, as well as the introduction of elements of dual education and further development of the mixed learning model for future educators. The paper stresses the long-term positive impact such initiatives can have on the system of pedagogical education in Ukraine.

The CityFace Research Initiative: Methodology, Results, Prospects

Yevhen Rachkov — 2026-03-20

In 2018, members of the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology of the Faculty of History of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, with the support of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta, launched the CityFace initiative as an interdisciplinary platform for the study and reconceptualization of the history and culture of the cities of eastern and southern Ukraine. CityFace is an open academic network that brings together researchers, artists, staff of cultural institutions, and public activists from Ukraine and abroad. It was intended as a platform for the development of shared cultural and research projects, promotion of interdisciplinary dialogue, and exchange of knowledge between specialists in different fields of the social humanities. To date, the CityFace team has already competed four research projects and continues to work on three more, concerned with issues of destruction, preservation, and rethinking of various elements of the historical and cultural landscapes of Dnipro, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kharkiv during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Participants in this research initiative pay special attention to the study of symbolic space, cultural heritage, sites of memory, festive traditions, commemorative practices, thematically relevant works of modern art, and more. The CityFace team coordinates online public events, such as presentations, discussions, and webinars, and documents the views of professionals in the field of cultural heritage protection (historians, museum workers, archivists, librarians, conservationists, artists, and others). CityFace actively works with Ukrainian and international experts and institutions, expanding the scope of international cooperation to improve cultural heritage protection practices and ensure sustainable development of the cities of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Heritage Studies and Heritage Preservation Work at the Academician P. T. Tronko Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local History (V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University) during the Full-Scale Phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War (2022–2024)

Oleksii Yankul — 2026-03-20

The paper gives an account of the work of heritage study and preservation at the Academician P. T. Tronko Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local History (V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University) in the period from the start of the full-scale phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War to 2024. The author considers the participation of representatives of the Tronko Center in various events dedicated to the study and preservation of Ukraine’s historical and cultural heritage in wartime, with a focus on Kharkiv and the region. Among such events and projects were, for instance, a series of webinars initiated by the Organization of World Heritage Cities, which focused on the losses suffered by the cultural heritage of historic Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages, as well as steps being taken and assistance needed to preserve it. In addition, the participants discussed directions of further cooperation, particularly in the area of coordination between Ukrainian heritage protection specialists and their colleagues around the world. Members of the Tronko Center also took part in discussions around the issues of protection and restoration of Kharkiv monuments hosted by the Polish-Ukrainian platform “Dom Odbudowy Ukrainy” (“The House of Reconstruction of Ukraine”). In 2022, in collaboration with Kharkiv City Council and V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, the center helped coordinate international humanitarian assistance to archives, museums, and libraries in Kharkiv and the region. The paper also notes the center’s involvement in research projects dealing with the historical and cultural heritage of Ukraine, particularly urban cultural heritage (such as the project CITY AND WAR, in collaboration with Karazin University’s Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology); organization in 2024 of an offline and online exhibition of ceramic artifacts from the collection of the center’s Section of Ethnography, as part of the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people; participation in heritage-related conferences, round tables, and seminars, and more. In addition, representatives of the center serve on commissions for protection of cultural heritage.

Preliminary Results of the Exploration of the Fourth Section of the Upper Saltiv Burial Ground (USBG-IV) (1998–2021)

Victor Aksionov — 2026-03-20

The paper summarizes the preliminary results of the excavations undertaken on the fourth Upper Saltiv burial ground (USBG-IV) from 1998 to 2021 by the archaeological expeditions of M. F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Museum of History and V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Over the years of the study of this section of the burial ground, 132 catacombs, ten burials in regular soil pits, five burials in pits with niches, seven dromoi without burial chambers, and one horse burial in a separate pit were discovered and investigated. These complexes yielded informative material that has enabled the researchers to propose a number of conclusions and hypotheses. In particular, the share of catacombs with a stone foundation at USBG-IV proved to be the largest among the catacomb necropolises of the region (30 percent). This likely indicates a higher property status of this group of the Alan population of Upper Saltiv. It was possible to identify ritual forms that had not been previously recorded at the Upper Saltiv burial ground, such as burials of animals (or people) in catacomb dromoi, which accompanied the main burials. Also for the first time on the site, catacombs were discovered with grooves intentionally made in the floor of the burial chambers. Another outcome of the study of USBG-IV is the identification of a new type of burial chambers — chambers with a two-level floor. It was established that the population of the Upper Saltiv settlement buried their dead at USBG-IV throughout the 9th century. Especially important are the catacomb burials, which represent the initial stage of the formation of the Saltiv culture in the upper reaches of the Siverskyi Donets. Thanks to the study of children’s burials in this section of the burial ground, it was established that the local population practiced the differentiation of children into three age groups. It was also possible to reconstruct the costume of an Alan woman belonging to the propertied elite of the Upper Saltiv community.

The Most Recent Period in the Study of the Bilsk Archaeological Complex

Ihor Korost — 2026-03-20

The Scythian-era Bilsk hillfort has been an object of research interest to the archaeologists of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University since 1954. In the period from 1958 to 1994, the Scythian-Slavic Archaeological Expedition, led by Prof. Borys Shramko, carried out wide-ranging excavations on the site. A large area of the settlement and its vicinity was explored, rescue digs were done on kurgans, and the excavated material was extensively systematized. This work provided the basis for a number of publications, including a general monographic study completed by Prof. Shramko in 1987, which became an essential reference work for all Scythologists interested in the Bilsk microregion. Since then, the Bilsk hillfort has remained a priority subject for Kharkiv University researchers and an important site for undergraduate archaeological field practice and postgraduate training in archaeology and ancient history. Material from new excavations enriches the collections of the University Museum of Archaeology every year. The museum now boasts one of the most impressive assemblages of artifacts from this famous site. The contribution of the university’s researchers to the exploration of the Bilsk hillfort is reflected in a dedicated display that is part of the museum’s permanent exhibition. After a brief interruption, the study of the archaeological complex was resumed and even significantly expanded in productive collaboration with the Bilsk Historical and Cultural Reserve, established in 2005. The paper traces the progress of the partnership between the reserve and V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (primarily researchers from the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology and the University Museum of Archaeology) in the areas of research, conservation, exhibition, and publication over the past 20 years. The main achievements are outlined, together with further steps necessary to advance the study, preservation, and popularization of this archaeological site of global importance.

Komariv: Old Excavations — New Horizons (The Excavations of Markiyan Smishko, 1950s to 1960s)

Vladyslav Shchepachenko — 2026-03-20

The paper outlines the history and prospects of the study of the archaeological materials excavated near the village of Komariv (Dniester District, Chernivtsi Region) under the leadership of Markiyan Smishko in the 1950s to 1960s. Discovered in the middle of the last century, this site is primarily known as a unique center of glass working outside the limes, located in the area of the Cherniakhiv/Sântana de Mureș culture, more than 300 km from the nearest section of the Roman border. Evidence of glass working, including the remains of a glass-melting furnace, pieces of raw glass, and fragments of moils and molds for blowing vessels, was first documented in Komariv during the excavations of M. Smishko. In total, during the five field seasons of 1956–1957, 1962, 1965, and 1969, across a section that encompasses almost half of the area of the settlement excavated so far, archaeologists discovered 37 structures of the late Roman and early Migration periods (including the glassmelting furnace remains and a stone building) and three structures from the early Iron Age, thousands of fragments of glassware, imported and local ceramic vessels, hundreds of non-ferrous metal objects, and many other elements of the material culture of the local population. The results of this extensive work were published by M. Smishko in the form of a brief review article. Later research into this material focused mainly on certain categories of finds — first and foremost those pertaining to glass working in Komariv. Other evidence from the settlement has not yet been the subject of scholarly scrutiny. The results of M. Smishko’s excavations remain an important source for the study of life in Komariv in the late Roman and early Migration periods, and can throw light on various developments that go far beyond the borders of the Middle Dniester region. This rich trove of information undoubtedly deserves careful assessment and deeper rethinking. Its comprehensive analysis, systematization, and publication should be an important step in this direction.

“You’ve Completely Wrecked Our Entire Numismatic Collection…”. The Kharkiv University Coin Collection Between the Two World Wars

Oleh Kaluhin — 2026-03-20

The paper considers the little-studied interwar period in the history of the numismatic collection of Kharkiv University — one of the oldest such university collections in Ukraine, which played a notable role in the cultural life of the city. After a period of active enlargement during the 19th and early 20th centuries, in particular thanks to the acquisition of coins from the Nesvizh collection of the Radziwiłł family, the subsequent history of the university’s numismatic cabinet in the 1920s and 1930s was for the most part a story of progressive depletion. It is noted that the first losses may have occurred as early as the Civil War of 1918–1920, when the collection was likely looted during its evacuation from Kharkiv. Special attention is given to the aftermath of the Riga Peace Treaty of 1921, under which Poland was able to reclaim some of its cultural heritage, including at least eight thousand coins from Kharkiv University’s Nesvizh assemblage. Based on archival sources and publications from the interwar period, the paper traces the process of restitution, identifies the institutions and individuals involved, and sums up the unresolved issues regarding the quantity and composition of the coins subject to repatriation. After being returned to Poland, the coins were deposited at the Numismatic Cabinet of the State Mint, and later were transferred to the National Museum in Warsaw. During World War II, the provenance records for the museum’s numismatic collection were lost, and so today coins originating from the Nesvizh assemblage cannot be identified with any confidence. The paper further considers the consequences of the reorganizations of the 1920s to 1930s, when new acquisitions did not compensate for the losses. The information that the university’s numismatic collection totaled up to forty thousand items on the eve of World War II is questioned; the actual numbers probably did not exceed eight to ten thousand. Finally, during the German occupation of Kharkiv the collection was destroyed completely — most of the coins were looted, lost, or perished in a fire.

Polish Intellectual, Political, and Legal Traditions in the Civic Thought of Left-Bank Ukraine, Second Half of the 18th to First Half of the 19th Centuries

Tetiana Lytvynova — 2026-03-20

The paper sets out to uncover the influence of the Polish intellectual tradition on the evolution of civic thought and practice in Left-Bank Ukraine during the second half of the 18th and first half of the 19th centuries. Despite the sustained attention to PolishUkrainian interactions in national historiography, the problem of the role and place of Poland and Polish intellectual heritage in projects for the reformation of Ukrainian society within the borders of the Russian Empire has not so far been studied in depth. The paper discusses the sources, techniques, and methods of the use of works and ideas of Polish historians, writers, and lawyers, as well as Polish law and legal practices, in the writings and civic pursuits of Hryhoriy Poletyka, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual and political figure of the mid-18th century. It is argued that the constitutional arrangements, legal norms, and ideological heritage of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were of key importance to H. Poletyka in his efforts to develop “programs” for reforming the Hetmanate in the direction of modernization and preservation of ancient rights and freedoms in the face of centralizing imperial policy. His ideas, informed by a deep knowledge of history and law, including the historiography of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, laid the foundation for an attitude towards the Hetmanate that would be organically received by the subsequent generations. The educated elite of Left-Bank Ukraine at the beginning of the 19th century felt a deep influence of H. Poletyka’s writings, and in large part through them – of the Polish political and legal tradition. The intellectual heritage of H. Poletyka, in which the premodern conception of the Ukrainian (Little Russian) nation took its final form, established a solid ground for the elite of Left-Bank Ukraine to conceive of their historic birthright and gave an impetus for the ideological explorations of generations of children and grandchildren. One outcome of this was the burgeoning of a modern ethno-national identity in the Ukrainian lands during the first half of the 19th century.

Orthodox Religion, Little Russian Identity, and Imperial Narrative in the Works of a Kharkiv Black Hundred Activist: The Case of Archpriest Tymofiy Butkevych (1854–1925)

Pavlo Yeremieiev — 2026-03-20

The study aims to throw light on the complex ideological synthesis underlying the writings of Tymofiy Butkevych — a prominent representative of the white clergy and one of the most influential Black Hundred activists in Kharkiv at the turn of the 20th century. Analyzing his journalism and academic scholarship, the paper reconstructs the intertwining of the three key elements of Butkevych’s worldview: Orthodox tradition, Little Russian identity, and imperial narrative. Butkevych appears as a typical representative of the conservative strand in the Little Russian discourse. His stance combined unwavering loyalty to the Russian Empire with a pronounced regional patriotism. He interpreted Ukrainian cultural and historical particularity as a form of Russianness, which allowed him to stress the ethnic and cultural uniqueness of “Little Russians” while at the same time denying their political subjecthood. An important aspect of the study is the analysis of Butkevych’s historical narratives. In his works, the Cossack myth received a distinctive interpretation: the events of 1654 were represented as “unification”, and the images of the Koliivshchyna (Honta, Zaliznyak) — as symbols of Orthodox resistance. In a manner typical of Little Russian identity, Butkevych portrayed Taras Shevchenko as a fighter against Catholic and Jewish influence and an ally in the struggle against “Little Russian separatism”. Butkevych used the term “Ukraine” as a synonym for “Little Russia”, integrating it into the imperial discourse, and expanded the notion of the Ukrainian space through the concept of the “South of Russia”. Butkevych’s political speeches, particularly on the subject of the Kholm region, employed ethnographic arguments, which indicates the adoption of elements of modern nationalism, built on the pre‑modern identities constructed in the Synopsis of 1674. The study lays bare the limitations of simplistic binary models of “imperial vs. national” and highlights the plural and layered nature of identities in the Ukrainian lands of the Russian Empire. The case of Butkevych shows that at the outset of the 20th century the boundary between “Little Russian” and “Ukrainian” was more permeable than historians often admit. His thought illustrates the need for a more nuanced approach to the study of conservative ideologies, accepting that they could combine imperial and regional elements in diverse ways.

The Kharkiv Show Trial of 15–18 December 1943 in Historiography

Vitalii Yakovliev — 2026-03-20

The beginnings of the historiography of the Kharkiv Show Trial can be traced back to the event itself – the first such trial of war criminals from the ranks of the armed forces of Nazi Germany in legal practice. The trial was aimed at more than just the domestic audience; it had significant international reverberations and became one of the many factors that influenced the decision of the Allied governments to initiate criminal prosecution against the leadership of the Third Reich. Soviet and recent Western and Ukrainian scholars have examined the Kharkiv Trial from a variety of angles, using diverse methodological and ideological approaches. Analysis of the work of Soviet researchers reveals an emphasis on the general historical and international-law aspects of the problem and on the study of the criminal acts of the Nazi occupation regime. The issue of bringing war criminals to justice was considered through the prism of the Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946). More recently, the growing interest of Western scholars in the role and significance of the USSR in the “global moment of justice” in the aftermath of World War II has been associated with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The Kharkiv Trial has been analyzed as part of research on the Holocaust and study of the post-war policy of “retribution” in the USSR. Foreign historians and legal scholars see it as an important episode in the complex and controversial story of punishing Nazi war crimes. Ukrainian historians since independence, employing the latest methodological perspectives, have produced substantial works on little-studied aspects of the German occupation regime. The challenges of today leave no doubt about the need to synthesize the knowledge and experience of the earlier historiographical tradition regarding the Kharkiv Trial and the use of the norms of criminal law to prosecute war crimes.

The Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Ukrainian Refugees in the EU: The Role of Cultural Events

Marina Keda — 2026-03-20

The migration crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine has become the largest for Europe since World War II. Long-term uncertainty and a distinct “ female face” are the defining features of this phenomenon, putting on the agenda the development of new strategies for migration management. While the legal and socio-economic factors of migration management have been the subject of sustained academic scrutiny, its cultural component often remains insufficiently studied and assessed. Combining methods of theoretical and empirical research, the paper investigates the impact that involving Ukrainian refugees in cultural activities has on their mental health, language acquisition, and changes in self-identity. The theoretical aspect of the project includes analysis of the source base and research literature on the impact of cultural interventions on work with forced migrants, while the empirical aspect is represented by a quantitative survey of 524 respondents from 27 EU countries and a qualitative study in the form of 56 semi-structured interviews, recorded in 2022–2023. As the paper examines the influence of participation in cultural and creative events in host countries on the adaptation of displaced Ukrainians, a significant decrease is found in their attendance of such events, and the main barriers to this form of engagement are identified. Analysis of the empirical data shows that cultural practices of various kinds produce the strongest positive effects for Ukrainian refugees in such closely related areas as: overcoming stress, managing the sense of uncertainty, and preventing the development of displacement- and war-related trauma (including PTSD). Such practices also contribute to language learning, the formation of social capital, and preservation and strengthening of national and European self-identity. Recognizing the role of culture as a regulatory mechanism in the process of refugee adaptation and integration will help in due course to elaborate algorithms for targeted cultural intervention in the system of migration management.

Professor Viktor Ivanovych Astakhov (1922–1972) — the Measure of the Man from the Vantage Point of Half a Century

Ruslan Pyrih — 2026-03-20

In this memoiristic essay by R. Ya. Pyrih, a graduate of Kharkiv University from the class of 1970, the reader will find recollections of Professor V. I. Astakhov (05/29/1922 – 06/22/1972), as well as of the events that took place at the university in the immediate aftermath of his death. The essay highlights the important role played by Professor Astakhov in the life of the university and reflects on his lasting impact. In the author’s view, the influence of this extraordinary personality on the university community was so great that even after his death it remained a determining factor in how the faculty, staff, and students perceived other figures that led the university.

My Universities, or How We Were Taught at the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, Archaeology, and Special Historical Disciplines of Kharkiv State University (1979–1984)

Viktor Riapolov — 2026-03-20

These recollections are shared by Viktor Mykhailovych Ryapolov, a graduate of the Faculty of History of A. M. Gorky Kharkiv State University (now V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University) from the class of 1984. As a first-year student, he began writing term papers under the guidance of Professor B. A. Shramko, and from his third year he specialized in the Department of Historiography, Source Studies, and Archaeology. The essay reflects on the significant influence that the department’s talented teachers had on the author.

The Exhibition Project “Save and Explore: Bilsk Archaeological Complex, the Seasons of 2022 to 2024”: The Archaeological Aspect

Oleh Shaporda — 2026-03-20

The review focuses on the archaeological aspect of the exhibition “SAVE AND EXPLORE: Bilsk Archaeological Complex, the Seasons of 2022 to 2024”, developed by the team of the Bilsk Historical and Cultural Reserve for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion and held in August 2024. The exhibition featured a wide selection of fragments of hand-built pottery, bronze and iron artifacts, and tools made of clay, bone, and stone, as well as restored large and medium-sized clay vessels. The creators’ systemic approach produced a sweeping picture of the cultural development and chronology of the Middle Vorskla region from the beginning of the Bronze Age to the postMongol period. The review stresses the importance of international cooperation for the successful protection of cultural heritage in wartime. In the author’s view, the archaeological component of the exhibition thoroughly and effectively showcased the scholarly achievement of the researchers of the Bilsk microregion and appropriately foregrounded the question of preserving the country’s material and immaterial heritage, which forms the foundation of the historical identity of the Ukrainian nation.

The Project Encyklopedia Lubelszczyzny at the Center for Research on Regional and Local History, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin

Yulia Kiselyova — 2026-03-20

The review discusses the digital project Encyklopedia Lubelszczyzny, developed at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University’s Center for Research on Regional and Local History. Based on the analysis of the project’s database, as well as the description of the project’s purpose and objectives provided by its creators, the review outlines the concept, structure, and goals of this initiative, which seeks to build an interactive database of the history of the towns and villages of Lublin Voivodeship. Particular attention is given to the project’s dual model of presentation: the contents are organized into an “expert zone”, reserved for professional researchers, and a “regionalists’ zone”, intended for the broad community of local history enthusiasts. This arrangement promotes interaction between academic research and local communities. The review reflects on the significance of the digital turn in the humanities, new forms of cooperation between historians and the general public, and practices of cultural heritage preservation in the virtual setting.