The Ukrainian Society of Finland (USF) in Helsinki organized an exhibition titled “Resilient Ukraine”. The event took place from May 9 to May 11 at the Oodi central library.

This project was a collaboration with Ukrainian photographer Kateryna Mostova. 

“Through photographs and video testimonies, the exhibition illustrated the effects of Russian aggression on the lives of people displaced from Crimea and Donbas since 2014,” stated the USF.

This artistic project also featured lectures and discussions about war, refugee issues, and solidarity. 

On May 9, Professor Henrik Meinander gave a lecture discussing the transformation of European refugee policies. Attendees also heard from Professor Martti Tahlia about the evacuation of 430,000 Karelians and parallels with Ukraine, as well as a lecture by Maria Zhigurt on the important role of the Ukrainian language as a form of resistance.

“On May 10, the focus shifted to Ukraine’s liberation struggles in the 20th and 21st centuries: Oleksandr Kostiuk talked about the role of the Plast youth movement, Oleksandr Yarotsky highlighted civil resistance during Soviet times, Oleksiy Prykhodko discussed Finlandization and historical threats, and Maria Zhigurt illustrated the evolution of the Ukrainian language during wartime,” noted the USF. 

Recordings of the lectures will be available on the USF YouTube channel.

“Special thanks to all speakers, participants, Kateryna Mostova, and the organizers Arseniy Svynarenko and Iryna Horkun-Silen,” stated the USF.