Ukrainian Culture Goes Global

In a significant cultural outreach, Ukraine has expanded its linguistic and literary presence across the globe, launching Ukrainian-language audio guides in five additional European countries and opening 25 new Ukrainian Bookshelves internationally in 2023. First Lady Olena Zelenska announced these enhancements in a recent update.

The new audio guides have been introduced at key cultural and historical sites including the Hof van Busleyden Museum in Belgium, the Einstein Museum in Switzerland, the Junibacken Children’s Museum in Sweden, sightseeing cruises in Finland’s Helsinki Archipelago, and the Mauthausen Memorial in Austria. This expansion brings the total to 122 Ukrainian-language audio guides now available in 59 countries.

Zelenska emphasized the importance of maintaining and promoting the Ukrainian language and culture globally, stating, “Wherever Ukrainians go, they must be able to access information in their native language. And the world must become accustomed to hearing our language in its rightful place alongside others.”

Furthermore, the initiative has seen the introduction of Ukrainian Bookshelves in diverse nations including Hungary, Greece, Norway, and as far as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Panama. These shelves are part of a broader project that now encompasses 73 countries and the headquarters of UNESCO, featuring over 390 bookshelves filled with more than 100,000 books on Ukrainian literature, science, and history.

The First Lady highlighted the project’s goal of fostering mutual understanding and support for Ukrainians worldwide, as well as introducing global citizens to Ukrainian culture through unbiased and comprehensive information. “Mutual understanding comes only from objective knowledge and a desire to understand. We are working toward this, for Ukraine and the world,” she concluded.