Participants

Discussion

It has been a decade since Russia illegally occupied and annexed Crimea as well as territories in the Donbas region, leading eventually to the full-scale invasion that began in February 2024 and continues to the present day. The assault by Russian armed forces has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military and civilian casualties, the displacement of millions of refugees, the massive devastation of Ukrainian cities and settlements, and widespread ecological damage that will have a deleterious effect on Ukraine’s environment for generations to come. It has not only struck a major blow to Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy while destroying countless cultural objects as well as landmarks of historical and spiritual significance, the war has compelled Ukrainians to have to turn to international bodies and friends and allies abroad to sustain their heroic resistance to Russia’s relentless onslaught on the battlefields, in the media, and in the diplomatic arena.

The world-wide Ukrainian diaspora has inevitably and profoundly been impacted by these developments in myriad ways. From the large-scale influx of Ukrainian citizens seeking temporary shelter from the brutal fighting wreaking havoc in their homeland, to the strains that diasporic institutions and communities have been subjected to as a result of Russia’s naked aggression, Ukrainian life outside of Ukraine is being dramatically transformed demographically, socially, culturally, and politically. This roundtable will explore not only how the Ukrainian diaspora has responded to the existential threat that Ukraine is experiencing with Russia’s genocidal war, it will examine how established community structures are evolving to meet the challenges facing Ukrainians both at home and beyond, and the new structures and population centres that have emerged with the dispersal of those temporarily displaced by Ukraine’s struggle to survive in circumstances that grow more difficult with each passing month. As travelers are well-aware, virtually everywhere you go in the world today one encounters Ukrainians living and working abroad, even in the most unexpected and far-flung places. What does the future hold for the Ukrainian diaspora, and how is it being changed by the war? What role is the Diaspora playing in support of Ukraine, and how are the “newcomers” interacting with established communities or addressing their specific needs by creating brand new organizations and communication networks.  These and other issues will be discussed by roundtable participants from a variety of backgrounds and academic specialties who are engaged in Ukrainian studies with an interest in contemporary Ukrainian life in what was once traditionally called the “immigration.” The roundtable format has been chosen as it is best suited to the fluid situation concerning questions related to the current situation of the Ukrainian Diaspora.