Antiquities of Lukomorie

Daoism and Huang-Lao in the ‘Shiji’

Кирило Боровик — 2026-03-19

This article examines the nature of Early Han Daoism and the Huang-Lao doctrine as presented in the ‘Shiji’, the earliest official dynastic history of China. The position of Huang-Lao within the intellectual landscape of early imperial China remains one of the most debated issues in the historiography of ancient Chinese philosophy. Although most scholars acknowledge the significant influence of Daoist ideas, there is still no widely accepted definition of what Huang-Lao was and to which intellectual tradition it should be attributed. To address this problem, the article analyzes the motives behind the ‘Shiji’ authors’ introduction of the neologisms ‘daojia’ and Huang-Lao, their interrelationship, and their original semantic scope.

The study challenges the conventional historiographical model of the ‘six schools’, which is based on an anachronistic interpretation of the term ‘jia’ in Sima Tan’s famous essay. Accordingly, it emphasizes the absence of an identifiable ‘Daoist school’ in this period. The term ‘daojia’ originally denoted specialists in Daoist techniques of inner cultivation and Dao-based principles of governance, while Huang-Lao functioned as the designation of the politically oriented doctrine of the ‘daojia’. On this basis, the author supports the view that the Daoism described in the ‘Shiji’ is identical with the Huang-Lao doctrine.

The article further discusses the role and significance of the figures of Laozi and the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) within this doctrine and traces the roots of Daoist syncretism to the pre-Han period. Although the ‘Shiji’ accounts of the origins of Huang-Lao are vague and retrospective, the most plausible hypothesis locates the emergence of Huang-Lao ideas in the state of Qi, where the renowned Jixia Academy was active. The biographies of Han-period figures associated with Huang-Lao, which recorded in the ‘Shiji’, are particularly important for elucidating the nature of this doctrine. Their analysis demonstrates that the syncretic Daoist ideas represented by Huang-Lao were influential under the early Han emperors and dominated the court during the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, whereas the accession of Emperor Wu marked a decline in the political influence of proponents of Daoist thought. At the same time, the article argues that these figures did not share a common identity grounded in affiliation with the Huang-Lao doctrine.

This paper suggests that the authors of the Shiji constructed the category ‘daojia’ and portrayed Huang-Lao as a philosophical school in order to consolidate adherents of the Daoist tradition and enhance their authority and influence. Consequently, the article proposes understanding Huang-Lao as a syncretic Daoist tradition encompassing the teachings of individual masters, rather than as a coherent and historically constituted philosophical school.

The Question of Roman National Identity in the Ancient World

Марк Боровик — 2026-03-19

The article is devoted to the analysis of the problem of the existence of nations and national identity in the premodern era, using the society of Ancient Rome primarily the period of the Roman Republic as a case study. At the center of the research is the debate between the modernist paradigm, which regards nations as exclusively a product of the modern age, and alternative approaches to the concept of «national identity». As contemporary representatives of modernist theory, the works of Ernest Gellner, Eric Hobsbawm, and Benedict Anderson are considered, while the studies of Anthony Smith, Azar Gat, and Caspar Hirschi are considered as those of their opponents. The author examines their key positions and proposes their own definition of a «national community», based on a synthesis of the principal theories, for the purpose of analyzing Roman society. In this context, the concept of the «imagined community» occupies an important place, being regarded as a universal tool for the analysis of large human collectives regardless of the era in which they existed.

The specificity of Roman identity is examined through the lens of the political institutions of the Republic, citizenship, the principle of formal equality among citizens, and conceptions of popular sovereignty. The views of ancient authors particularly Cicero, Polybius, Livy, Cato, and Vitruvius are analyzed as sources for reconstructing the Roman understanding of their own past and the place of the Romans among other peoples. The article also presents the positions of modern historians who address this issue and support the idea of the existence of «national communities» in the Ancient world. Based on an analysis of both primary sources and historiography, it is demonstrated that Roman literature and political theory contributed to the formation of a shared historical narrative and a sense of belonging to a broader community that extended beyond the boundaries of individual cities.

Based on archaeological and written sources, the article substantiates the thesis of a gradual cultural and political integration of Italian communities, which laid the groundwork for the formation of a broader Roman identity. In conclusion, the article argues that, despite significant differences from modern nations, the Roman community of the Republican period exhibits several key national characteristics, making it possible to speak of the existence of a Roman nation in the ancient context. At the same time, the study demonstrates that addressing this issue is inseparably linked to the researcher’s own conceptual position, since it first requires defining the concept of «nation» as the key analytical category.

The initial stage of research of the Dnieper’s the Left Bank monuments of the 5-7 centuries (middle courses of the Psel and Vorskla rivers)

Віктор Приймак — 2026-03-19

This article continues a series of publications devoted to the formation of a source base for studying the monuments of the 1^st millennium AD in the Bilsk microregion and the adjacent forest-steppe and steppe territories of the Dnieper Left Bank (antiquities of the Zarubintsi line of development). At the initial stage of studying the monuments of the Penkivka culture on the left bank of the Dnieper (1900s – mid-1960s), random finds of individual items and treasures of the «antiquities of the Ants» were recorded. In the Vorskla basin, only one complex comes from excavations – this is an inhumation burial near the village of Berezivka, researched by V.Yu. Danilevich. Part of the treasures of the 6^th-8^th centuries was published at the beginning of the 20^th century by M.O. Makarenko and O.S. Fedorovsky. The most complete catalogue of artifacts, prepared in the pre-war and post-war years by G.F. Korzukhina, was published at the end of the 20^th century.

The interpretation of materials obtained at the initial stage of studying the antiquities of Penkivka was made possible during the first (1960-1990) and second stages (from the turn of the 20^th-21^st centuries to the present). A distinctive feature of the second, ongoing stage is a significant reduction in the scale of stationary research of monuments. This is only partially compensated for by the active publication of materials from excavations and surveys, mainly obtained during the first stage of work. The publication of materials obtained during the second stage continues, but a significant part of them introduces artifacts obtained during illegal work into scientific circulation. The latter have become widespread and practically uncontrolled. The reliability of data on the composition of material complexes (?) and the locations where artifacts were found is questionable.

It is possible that the occupation of Crimea and eastern Ukraine, the years of the pandemic, and Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine are already part of a new, third stage in the study of Penkivka culture and other Slavic and neighboring cultures (horizons), as identified in the 1940-60-s and at the beginning of the 20^th century.

The Establishment of Christianity as a State Religion by Prince Volodymyr as a Means of Enlightenment and Europeanization of Rus

Олена Дудник — 2026-03-19

The paper examines how the scholarly elite of the late nineteenth century interpreted the introduction of Christianity in Kyivan Rus. On the eve of the celebrations marking the 900^th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus by the Kyivan prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych, more than ten articles dedicated to this jubilee were published in ‘Trudy Kievskoi Dukhovnoi Akademii’ in 1886-1888. Their authors — professors and scholars of the Kyiv Theological Academy, including Mykola Petrov, Ivan Linnychenko, Volodymyr Zavitnevych, Vasyl Malinin, Ivan Malyshevskyi, and Vasyl Pevnytskyi — reconstructed the life of the Kyivan prince, clarified the reasons for the Christianization of Rus, investigated the place and time of Volodymyr’s baptism, examined the Byzantine influence on the cultural development of the Eastern Slavs, analyzed the internal motivations behind Volodymyr’s cultural and spiritual transformation, and emphasized his role as an enlightener while evaluating the historical significance of the introduction of Christianity. Despite the somewhat rhetorical and laudatory tone in their characterization of Prince Volodymyr — largely due to the ‘jubilee’ context of the publications — the authors carefully employed primary sources, analyzed them critically, and formulated conclusions that largely correspond with modern scholarly assessments of the Christianization of the Old Rus state.

The analysis of the materials published in ‘Trudy Kievskoi Dukhovnoi Akademii’ in 1886-1888 devoted to events that had occurred nine centuries earlier made it possible to identify the aspects that attracted the greatest attention of scholars and the nature of their interpretations. In evaluating the establishment of Christianity by Prince Volodymyr in the state of Kyivan Rus, historians emphasized primarily its political and educational consequences. The causes of the Baptism were seen in the vitality of Christianity itself, which was spreading across Europe and approaching the borders of Rus, in the cultural and educational potential of Byzantium, and in the political relations between the Old Rus state and other Christian polities. The establishment of Christianity as a state religion meant entry into the European cultural sphere, since European culture had developed on the foundation of Christianity. The introduction of Christianity was interpreted as a historically conditioned event, and Volodymyr’s greatness was associated with his adoption of the very foundation of European learning — Christianity — and with the manner in which he implemented it without compromising his honor and dignity. The authors were unequivocal in their understanding of the European character of the Kyivan Rus state and emphasized that Christianity became a powerful instrument of its Europeanization.

A recurring theme in the published materials was the assessment of Byzantine influence on Old Rus culture, which contributed to its elevation to the level of European Christian culture. Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych himself was portrayed as a far-sighted statesman who understood the demands of his time and used every opportunity to integrate Rus into the European cultural space.

The Battle on Lake Peipus in 1242: Russian Myth and Reality

Богдан Крещук — 2026-03-19

The article is devoted to an analysis of the Livonian campaign against the Novgorod land in 1240-1242 and the Battle on Lake Peipus as one of the key episodes of the German–Rus’ military and political confrontation of the thirteenth century. The study examines not only the course of military operations as such, but also the broader political and social context of the conflict, including the specific patterns of interaction between the Livonian Order, local Baltic and Finno-Ugric communities, and the northern Rus’ principalities, as well as the frontier character of this region.

On the basis of a critical analysis of a corpus of thirteenth-century written sources — including the First Novgorod Chronicle, the Pskov Chronicles, the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, and the hagiographic Life of Alexander Nevsky — the article traces the evolution of military actions from the Swedish attack on the Neva River in 1240 to the counteroffensive of the Novgorodian and allied forces in early 1242. Particular attention is paid to internal political processes in Novgorod and Pskov, the role of local elites and so-called ‘pro-German’ factions, as well as the influence of the Mongol factor on the strategic decisions of both the German crusaders and Prince Alexander Yaroslavich.

A significant part of the study is devoted to a critical reassessment of established historiographical interpretations of the Battle on Lake Peipus. It is demonstrated that many details widespread in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Russian historiography — such as claims about the mass drowning of German knights through the ice, clearly defined battle formations, or a premeditated tactical plan of the Novgorodian army — lack direct source evidence and represent the results of later myth-making. By contrast, authentic thirteenth-century sources provide extremely sparse and fragmentary information, which significantly limits the possibilities for a detailed reconstruction of the battle and compels the researcher to rely on probabilistic models.

The article also addresses the problem of the size of the forces involved and the casualties sustained by both sides, comparing data from Rus’ and Livonian sources and delineating the limits of their informativeness and reliability, taking into account genre specificity and political bias. Special emphasis is placed on the role of source criticism in distinguishing reconstructed historical events from later ideological accretions formed within national historical narratives. It is concluded that while the Battle on Lake Peipus was an important event from a military and political perspective, its significance in subsequent historical memory has been substantially exaggerated. The proposed approach allows the events of 1240-1242 to be interpreted not as a mythologized act of ‘civilizational confrontation’, but as a pragmatic regional conflict shaped by specific political, economic, and military circumstances of Northeastern Europe in the thirteenth century, characteristic of the era of crusades in the Baltic region.

The political thought of the Huguenots in the first third of the 17th century

Тарас Богатчук — 2026-03-19

Based on written sources and specialized historical literature, the article analyzes the political thought of the Huguenots during the first third of the 17^th century. The purpose of the study is to identify the core political ideas of the Huguenot community as presented in the works of that period.

It is established that the principal works reflecting Huguenot political thought include the writings of J.-P. de Lescun, T. Brachet de La Milletière, A. d’Aubigné, the Duke of Rohan, as well as official declarations of church synods and political assemblies. The article highlights the evolution of Huguenot political thought during the 17^th century, demonstrating a shift from monarchomach theories toward loyalty to the monarchy as the guarantor of religious tolerance. A notable exception is the work of A. d’Aubigné, which follows the monarchomach tradition.

The study proves that the Huguenot political doctrine was based on the recognition of absolute sovereignty and the divine right of kings, which, however, carried an obligation to respect the rights of subjects. The authors argued that the Edict of Nantes, as a law protecting the rights of subjects, constitutes one of the fundamental laws of the kingdom that the monarch must not violate. Their writings promote the narrative of a conspiracy by the Huguenots’ enemies, who allegedly sought to destroy both the Church and the State; this rhetoric was employed to avoid direct confrontation with the monarchy.

It is established that 17^th century Huguenot political works approach the theory of resistance with caution, framing their struggle not as an opposition to the sovereign, but as a defense against persecutions organized by their enemies. Huguenot authors mostly bypassed the possibility of direct resistance to the King.

Furthermore, the authors asserted a commonality of interests between a strong royal authority and the Huguenots. Their works attempted to prove the relationship between national unity and religious tolerance. The existence of edicts and the necessity of religious pluralism are explained through the lens of state interests: a strong King is beneficial to the Huguenots as he can guarantee the edicts, while the King benefits from Huguenot loyalty and their foreign policy connections. The article concludes that the Huguenots largely adopted the logic of raison d’État and absolutism.

Reconstruction of Ivan Piddubnyi’s Genealogy: Source Studies and Methodological Aspects

Владислав Волинський — 2026-03-19

The article investigates the genealogy of the renowned athlete Ivan Maksymovych Piddubnyi. For a long time, the champion’s persona has been subjected to manipulation within Soviet and Russian imperial historical narratives. His Cossack roots and Ukrainian identity were purposefully marginalized in favor of the «Russian bogatyr» construct. In light of this, refuting pseudo-historical myths through a detailed and comprehensive study of the athlete’s origins is highly relevant.

The study aims to reconstruct I. Piddubnyiʼs ancestral lines back to the mid-18th century based on the analysis of archival documents and to determine the social origins of his ancestors. The source base of the research comprises parish registers and confessional lists from the funds of the State Archives of Cherkasy Region, the State Archives of Poltava Region, and the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Kyiv.

While examining the athlete’s maternal branch, familial ties between I. Piddubnyi and the Cossack families of Hurynenko and Onyshchenko from the village of Bohodukhivka (modern-day Cherkasy region) were established for the first time. Specifically, the figures of the championʼs great-great-grandfathers – Cossacks Vasyl Hurynenko and Tymofii Martynovych Onyshchenko (born circa 1736) – were identified. Knowledge of the paternal line was also expanded by identifying the earliest known representative of the Ovechko family, Uliana Andriivna (born circa 1732).

A distinct outcome of the research is the discovery of an attribution error regarding the parish registers of the village of Krasenivka (Cherkasy region) within the State Archives of Cherkasy Region funds. It was determined that a portion of the files cataloged as belonging to Krasenivka actually pertains to the parish records of Bohodukhivka. This finding allowed for the precise localization of the birthplace of the athlete’s mother, Hanna Naumenko, and the tracing of her lineage back to her great-great-grandfather, Opanas Naumenko (died before 1796).

The study proves I. Piddubnyi’s Cossack descent on both the paternal and maternal sides, which is crucial for refuting the claims of Soviet and Russian historians regarding the athlete as a «Russian bogatyr». The scientific research and description of I. Piddubnyi’s origins are vital for shaping national memory and popularizing Ukrainian history and the genealogy of prominent Ukrainians.

Academic Performance and Student Behavior at the Kyiv-Pechersk Gymnasium During Its Institutional Formation (1885-1889): the Managerial Experience of Vyacheslav Petr

Михайло Мішин — 2026-03-19

The article provides a comprehensive historical reconstruction and a systemic overview of the educational and upbringing environment of the Kyiv-Pechersk Men’s Gymnasium during its institutional formation (1885-1889). The relevance of the study is driven by the need to rethink the historical experience of managing secondary education institutions during periods of acute socio-political transformations and shifts in educational paradigms. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the introduction of a significant array of previously unknown archival materials from the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Kyiv. Based on the study of pedagogical council meeting journals, reporting documentation, district trustee orders, and personal documents, the authors have reconstructed in detail the strategy for forming the teaching staff and student body of the newly established gymnasium. The examination of sources revealed the specifics of the gymnasium administration’s interaction with higher educational authorities regarding financial, material, and personnel support under limited resource conditions, as well as in the sphere of monitoring the educational and upbringing process.

Special attention is paid to the figure of the institution’s first director, the prominent classical educator Vyacheslav Petr. The study thoroughly investigates his managerial experience, which was based on the principle of a sensible balance between the rigid requirements of the imperial bureaucratic system of that time (the period of ‘counter-reforms’) and original initiatives aimed at humanizing the educational space. The conceptualization of the director’s pedagogical views is performed through a comparative study of his public speech texts (1883 and 1899), allowing for a scientific substantiation of the consistency of his value orientations and adherence to the ideas of classical education.

The paper highlights key indicators of academic performance in detail and systematizes the dynamics of student success in studying classical languages and mathematics. These data are examined in inseparable connection with the critical reflection on the disciplinary practices of the era. The mechanisms of the total supervision system are revealed, which covered not only internal school life but also the extracurricular time of students within the urban environment of Kyiv. The authors argue that under V. Petr’s leadership, discipline was viewed not as a tool of coercion but as a vital element of socialization. Additionally, the role of the gymnasium library and its intellectual influence on the formation of the students’ worldview is illustrated.

Cultural Diplomacy of the Japanese Consulate in Odesa (late 19th - early 20th century)

Людмила Вовчук — 2026-03-19

The article analyses the activities of the Japanese consulate in Odesa at the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries in the context of the implementation of cultural diplomacy by Japan during the Meiji Restoration period. It analyses the role of the consulate in shaping a positive image of Japan abroad through the organization of exhibitions of Japanese goods, establishing contacts with local entrepreneurs and promoting Japanese culture and manufacturing.

Particular attention is paid to the activities of the honorary consul, influential Odesa entrepreneur and co-owner of the house ‘V. Raksheev & Son’ Oleksandr Raksheev, who initiated exhibitions of Japanese products in Odesa in 1896-1897. The exhibitions included a wide range of products demonstrating both traditional craft techniques and the latest Japanese industrial products. Among the items on display were porcelain and lacquered tea sets, ceramic and bronze vases, decorative boxes, furniture, screens, silk fabrics, embroidery, fans, paper and silk lanterns, paintings, photographs, lacquer and tortoiseshell items. Along with artistic items, various samples of everyday goods and industrial products were also on display: printing and packaging paper, woven baskets, trays, bamboo products, boxes, lamps, burners, glass items, toys, and other household items. Such a variety of exhibits allowed Japanese production to be presented as modern, competitive and at the same time closely linked to the traditional artistic culture of the country. The organized exhibitions were not only a cultural event, but also an effective means of commercial advertising for Japanese goods, facilitating the establishment of contacts between Japanese manufacturers and Odesa merchants. However, the untimely death of the honorary consul in February 1898 led to the gradual cessation of the exhibition of Japanese goods.

The work traces the further transformation of the functions of the Japanese consulate, when on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the collection of political and military information became the priority of its activities. After the war ended, the consulate resumed its work, but due to limited economic contacts and the absence of a significant Japanese community in the region, it was finally closed in 1909.

It is concluded that the activities of the Japanese consulate in Odesa combined the instruments of cultural, economic and political diplomacy aimed at strengthening Japan's international authority and expanding its influence in the Black Sea region.

Foreign investment in the development of Industry in East-Central Ukraine in 1882-1917

Олена Ходченко — 2026-03-19

The article examines the impact of foreign capital on the development of the industrial potential of Central-Eastern Ukraine during the period of rapid industrialization in the Russian Empire at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. It analyzes the historical circumstances that facilitated the large-scale economic involvement of investors from France, Belgium, Germany, and other European countries.

The aim of the study is to determine the role and significance of foreign investment and the industrial enterprises established by European entrepreneurs in shaping the economic, demographic, and sociocultural development of the Central-Eastern Ukrainian regions, as well as their contribution to the formation of the industrial historical-geographical region of the Donbas.

The research demonstrates that the imperial government’s protectionist policies, combined with abundant natural resources and an accessible labor force, created favorable conditions for the implementation of foreign industrial projects. Western entrepreneurs, investing in mineral extraction and metallurgical production, received exceptionally high profits within short periods, which in turn attracted new investors, stimulated market activity, encouraged labor migration, and accelerated urbanization.

Special attention is given to the emergence of corporate towns – urban settlements that developed around large enterprises founded by foreign industrialists and their influence on demographic change and the formation of new social identities among the local population. Some of these settlements evolved into monofunctional towns whose economies were based on a single industrial sector supported by several companies.

The study shows that the introduction of Western technologies, technical standards, and managerial practices contributed to the large-scale exploitation of the region’s mineral resources, the inflow of capital, and the integration of industrial production into European market relations.

Funding. This article was prepared with financial support from the project of the Department of World History at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, “European multiculturalism as an experience and a path for Ukraine’s European integration” (project No. 101127866 – EMKEpaUEI, registration card No. 5475), implemented within the EU ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet programme.

Fire protection of architectural monuments of history and culture of the Soviet Ukraine in 1921-1941

Михайло Харламов — 2026-03-19

This paper characterizes certain problems of fire protection of architectural monuments of history and culture on the territory of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic / Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921-1941. The insufficiently known and uncharacterized aspects of fire prevention and fire prevention of architectural monuments of history and culture of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic-USSR in the specified historical period are studied. The features of fire protection of architectural monuments of history and culture on Ukrainian lands during the times of the new economic policy and the times of the emergence and establishment of the Stalinist totalitarian regime in the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic are studied, and the features of the state’s attitude to cult and religious architectural monuments of history and culture in the studied period are considered.

The conclusions are drawn that during 1921-1941 the system of fire protection of architectural monuments of history and culture in the Ukrainian SSR (Ukrainian SSR) was not isolated into an independent direction of state activity. Fire safety measures for such objects were implemented within the framework of general fire protection, the priorities of which remained industrial enterprises, transport facilities and strategically important infrastructure. The lack of a special legal status of monuments in the fire safety system led to the superficial nature of control and ignoring specific preventive measures necessary for their preservation. The organizational structure of the management of the protection of monuments and fire affairs was characterized by the lack of proper coordination. Institutions responsible for the preservation of cultural heritage and subordinate to the People’s Commissariat of Education focused mainly on the registration of objects and restoration work, permissible from an ideological point of view.

At the same time, the fire service, which was subordinate to the NKVD, performed tasks determined by the logic of ensuring state security. Such departmental disunity made it impossible to form a holistic system of fire protection of monuments.

Collecting and donating art in post-WWI East-Central Europe: Yulian Kupchyskyi’s gift to Ukrainian museums

Yuliia Kizyma — 2026-03-19

The article presents results of the author’s research into the history of an art collection handed over by Polish national Yulian Kupchynskyi to museums of the Ukrainian SSR between 1951 and 1954. Despite the collection’s remarkable size and diversity, neither the donor’s identity nor the circumstances under which he obtained and subsequently donated the items have hitherto been subjected to scholarly inquiry.

The purpose of this research was not only to establish factual information concerning Kupchynskyi and his collection, but also view this episode as a case study on private and institutional collecting in post-WWII East-Central Europe. For this purpose, the author suggests a theoretical framework that combines approaches of material culture studies, Alfred Gell’s ‘art nexus theory’, anthropology of gift giving, and ‘inconvenient heritage’ studies.

Research has demonstrated that Kupchynskyi acquired most pieces in his collection during his stay in Silesia between 1946 and 1950. It core was composed of works by German artists who were forced to leave the region after its occupation by the Red Army and annexation to Poland, as well as other items that, mostly likely, had previously belonged to them or their family members. Due to the lack of sources, it is not possible to determine the precise circumstances under which Kupchynskyi obtained the items. Instead, the author analysis the collector’s own statements and proposes several hypotheses concerning this subject.

Between 1951 and 1954, with several governmental bodies acting as mediators, Kupchynskyi handed over several hundred items to museums in Kyiv and Lviv. According to the donor, in doing so he sought to ‘serve his Fatherland’. However, the author considers other factors that might have been behind this decision. The risk of political persecution seems to be the most important one.

The paper outlines the initial composition of the collection and its ‘afterlife’ in Ukrainian museums, namely the dispersal across several institutions and claims regarding most objects’ ‘poor artistic value’. Instead, the study demonstrates the significance of the gift in general and some of the items, such as paintings, drawings, and prints, specifically. Finally, the author charts some of the links between the case under consideration and broader research issues related to private and institutional collecting, particularly (but not exclusively) in post-WWII East-Central Europe.

Funding. The publication was created under the scholarship Programme of the Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue.

Andriy Malyshko’s Pedagogical Activities

Тетяна Ладиченко — 2026-03-19

This article is devoted to the little-studied and practically unknown to the general public aspects of the life and work of the outstanding Ukrainian Soviet poet and public, political, and cultural figure Andriy Samoilovich Malyshko. Based on a significant number of documentary sources, scientific research, and periodicals, the article traces Malyshko’s pedagogical activities and his connections with the education system in the Ukrainian SSR.

In modern Ukrainian historiography, there are only a few publications devoted to the issues covered in the article, in particular, the period of Andriy Samoilovych’s education and the beginning of his professional activity in the field of education, his direct participation in the literacy program, which the future poet was involved in at the age of fifteen. The author also proves that in the following years, in fact throughout his entire life, Malyshko did not sever his ties with education.

Andriy Samoilovych Malyshko began his career as a teacher. He was a teacher, deputy headmaster, and later headmaster of a school in Ovruch, a successful activist in the Komsomol organization, and was actively involved in social, cultural, and educational work. Contemporary accounts indicate that he was a good teacher, approached various tasks creatively, and was noted for his organizational skills. Malyshko quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a deputy head teacher and then a school principal. However, his future as a teacher was cut short by a campaign to find hidden enemies among education workers. Malyshko was reminded that his brother had been sentenced to death as a Makhnovist. With the help of his former university professors, the poet was able to rehabilitate himself, but he never returned to school. Nevertheless, throughout his life, the writer maintained close ties with many educators: schoolchildren, students, and scholars. He corresponded with schoolchildren, graduate students, and others. Later, as a deputy, he tried as best he could to improve the educational process, the quality of education, and the living conditions in dormitories for Soviet and foreign students, always paying considerable attention to the problems of the development of the Ukrainian language. Together with Oles Honchar, Malyshko insisted on the mandatory study of the Ukrainian language in all educational institutions. Malyshko also analyzed the state of work at universities, in particular, the educational process and the quality of teaching foreign students in the Ukrainian SSR, and sought new ways to improve them.

Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP): Historical Milestones and Strategic Goals

Оксана Махиня — 2026-03-19

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of one of the largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects in the world – the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). The work covers the path of transformation of the initiative from a purely energy program to a multi-sectoral model of sustainable human development.

The author examines the roots of the project, which date back to the 1930s, when the Directorate for the Study of Electricity was established at the initiative of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The article analyzes in detail the key stages: the formation of disparate plans for the construction of dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into a single integrated project; the official transformation of GAP into a regional development project with the adoption of the ‘Master Plan’, which marked the transition from technical construction to socio-economic reform. The work focuses on the description of technical achievements. The project covers 9 provinces of Turkey. Hydropower: The system provides for the construction of 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants. Irrigation: A plan to irrigate over 1.82 million hectares of arid land, transforming the region into the ‘breadbasket’ of the Middle East. Special attention is paid to the Ataturk Dam, one of the largest in the world by volume of embankment.

The article reveals the multifaceted strategic objectives of Turkey: overcoming regional inequality, reducing the economic gap between the developed west and the agrarian east of the country. Job creation: The project aims to provide jobs for over 3.8 million people, which is critical for stabilizing the social situation in the region. Infrastructure development: modernization of transport networks, construction of airports and development of urban infrastructure. Social protection and education: implementation of women’s support programs, establishment of multipurpose community centers (ÇATOM) and increase of literacy level. A separate section is devoted to ‘water diplomacy’. Since the Tigris and Euphrates are transboundary rivers, the implementation of the GAP raises discussions with neighboring Syria and Iraq.

The author analyzes the issue of water resources distribution in the river basin. Environmental consequences: ecosystem changes, risks of soil salinization and preservation of historical heritage (for example, the case of the flooding of the ancient city of Hasankeyf). The article concludes that GAP has ceased to be just a network of hydroelectric power plants. Today it is a global example of integrated development, where economic growth is combined with social justice and environmental management. Despite financial and geopolitical obstacles, the project remains a key instrument of national security and economic sovereignty of Turkey.

Stages in the Development of Ukraine’s Institution of Advocacy in the Context of Ukrainian Statehood Periodization

Юрій Котляр — 2026-03-19

The article analyses the key stages in the development of Ukraine’s institution of advocacy. The study explores this process within the broader framework of Ukrainian statehood periodization, highlighting the interconnections between the evolution of the advocacy institution and the transformations of state organization, legal systems, and political-legal regimes.

The history of Ukrainian statehood consists of four stages: the first – the princely era; the second – the Cossack era (the Hetmanate); the third – the Ukrainian National Revolution; and the fourth – the modern independent Ukrainian state. The existence of the Galicia-Volhynia State was of particular importance for the formation of Ukrainian statehood.

At the same time, Ukraine experienced several stages of historical existence: statehood, semi-statehood, and statelessness. Over 826 years (from 1199 to 2025), Ukraine spent more time in conditions of semi-state existence (344 years) than in the process of full-fledged state-building (249 years), which complicates the perception of these periods as stages in the existence of a single continuous Ukrainian statehood. Moreover, Ukraine has a unique historical experience of reviving its state-building process even after centuries of foreign domination during the stateless stage (233 years). The prolonged absence of an independent state created the necessity to seek and defend a distinct position within foreign state structures. In this context, the institution of advocacy played an important role.

Seven stages of the development of Ukraine’s institution of advocacy are identified. The article examines the stages in the development of Ukraine’s institution of advocacy within the context of the periodization of the historical existence of Ukrainian statehood. It is established that three of these stages (Kyivan Rus and the Galicia-Volhynia Principality; the Ukrainian National Revolution; and the modern independent Ukrainian state) correspond to full-fledged stages of Ukrainian state formation. Three stages (the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia; the Hetmanate; the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) belong to the semi-state phase. Finally, one stage (the period of incorporation into the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires) corresponds to a period of statelessness.

Periods of strengthening state autonomy and sovereignty were accompanied by an expansion of powers and an increase in self-governance within the advocacy profession, whereas under imperial and totalitarian regimes its independence was significantly restricted. Today, the institution of advocacy is becoming established as an integral component of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

The Russian Factor in Turkey’s Foreign Policy Towards Ukraine in the First Stage of the Russian-Ukrainian War (2014-2021)

Андрій Грубінко — 2026-03-19

The article analyses Russia’s historical influence on the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey and Ukrainian-Turkish relations during 2014-2021. This period marks the first stage of the Russian Federation’s recent military intervention in Ukraine, which has led to significant changes in the system of international relations, economy and security at the regional and global levels. The article takes into account the experience of communication between Ukraine and Turkey as regional centres of influence, as well as the interaction between Turkey and Russia in the region.

It is noted that at the beginning of the 21^st century, Russia and Turkey, historically two competing powers in the Black Sea region, began to seek new forms of interaction and cooperation based on energy interests in supplying Russian gas and oil to Europe and the Middle East through Turkish territory. This was facilitated by changes in Turkey’s foreign policy in the second half of the 2010s, which consisted of a gradual distancing from the West and an attempt to achieve strategic autonomy while remaining a member of NATO. These efforts led to Turkey’s energy dependence on Russian energy sources and, accordingly, to a more pro-Russian policy on the part of the Turkish leadership. The historically complex relations in the Turkey-Russia-Ukraine triangle became particularly acute in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Turkey’s foreign policy of balancing has posed both threats and opportunities for Ukrainian-Turkish relations. Through its active energy cooperation with Russia during the first phase of the modern Russian-Ukrainian war, Turkey actually contributed to the further strengthening of Putin’s regime and the economic foundation of its military potential, which was later fully exploited in the full-scale war against Ukraine. At the same time, Turkey’s foreign policy balancing act between the West and the East made it possible to initiate and develop Ukrainian-Turkish military-technical cooperation and humanitarian contacts, expand economic cooperation, and use Ankara’s official capacity as a mediator between the parties to the conflict in Ukraine and a platform for peace talks.

The Formation and Development of the Lviv School of Auxiliary (Special) Historical Disciplines as a Scholarly and Cultural Phenomenon

Ігор Кривошея — 2026-03-19

Review of the Monograph: O. P. Tseluiko. Auxiliary (Special) Historical Disciplines in Lviv from the Late 18th Century to the 1980s: Structural Transformations, Scholarly and Educational Practices. Lviv: Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 2024. 904 p.