Polonica at Kharkiv University: Poles in the University’s History and Memory
On October 19–20, 2026, Professor Serhii Posokhov, Chair of the Department, visited Lublin, Poland, as part of a delegation from the School of History led by its Dean, Serhii Kushnariov. The visit coincided with the opening of the exhibition "Polonica at Kharkiv University: Poles in the University’s History and Memory", organized in collaboration with the Museum of the Eastern Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of Lublin. The exhibition was curated by Viktoriia Ivashchenko and Serhii Posokhov. The exhibition features twelve panels displaying a variety of materials, including photographs, reproductions of documents and portraits, and information about specific historical events. Together, these materials highlight the contributions of Poles to the development of Kharkiv University and the city of Kharkiv. Particular attention is given to efforts to preserve the memory of prominent Poles whose lives and legacies are connected to the city and the University in contemporary Kharkiv. The exhibition officially opened on October 20 in Lithuanian Square in downtown Lublin. The ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives of the city government, museums, universities, and the local community. Roman Shepeliak, Consul General of Ukraine in Lublin, also attended the event. Immediately before the opening, the Kharkiv delegation met with Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin; Dr. hab. Katarzyna Mieczkowska, Director of the National Museum in Lublin; and Dr. Marcin Gapski, Deputy Director of the museum. During the visit, the Kharkiv scholars also met with Professor Piotr Bednarczyk, Director of the Institute of History at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, and Professor Dariusz Kupisz. They discussed the results of previous collaborative initiatives and plans for future cooperation between historians at the two universities. We sincerely thank our Polish colleagues for their interest in the history of Kharkiv University and look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration.
