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2026-03-31
Oleksandr MARUSCHENKO, Yulia PASICHNA
a peer-review of the monograph: Soviet Identity: Formation – Rooting – Deconstruction: Collective Monograph / Scientific Editor O. A. Koliastruk. Vinnytsia: Tvory, 2025, 352 p.
2026-03-31
Теtiana CHUBINA, Yanina FEDORENKO
The research is devoted to a systematic study on the historiographical and methodological genesis of the scientific thought about the Ukrainian village and the agrarian relations from the 1950s to the beginning of the third decade of the 21 st century. The purpose of the research is to carry out a comprehensive analysis regarding the transformation of conceptual foundations and stages of the historiographical and methodological understanding of the Ukrainian village in the second half of the 20 th – at the beginning of the 21 st centuries, as well as identifying the vector of the research guidelines development from the classical Soviet approaches to modern practices of historical science. The methodology of the research is based on the principles of historicism, scientificity, verification, authorial objectivity, the use of the historical, institutional, systemic and problem chronological method, as well as methods of comparative judgment and generalisation. Scientific novelty. There have been clearly distinguished and substantiated three qualitatively different stages of the historiographical and methodological understanding of the topic: the Soviet one, which was characterised by ideologization and adherence to the Marxist-Leninist formational approach, the transitional one with its inherent de-ideologization and nation-oriented approach, and the modern one, characterised by the methodological pluralism, interdisciplinarity, and synergy. Conclusions. The transformation of the historiographical understanding of the Ukrainian village during the mid-20 th –the beginning of the 21 st centuries went from an ideologised formational paradigm to a human-centered and interdisciplinary strategy for studying this cradle of the Ukrainian history. This process was implemented through three consecutive stages, each of which is characterized by a radical change in methodological tools and a significant expansion of the intellectual horizons of researchers. The first stage was the Soviet one, which is known as the period when historiography was methodologically limited and distorted. The agrarian historians focused exclusively on the “successes” of the collective farm and the state farm system (growth in production, mechanization, “the rapprochement of the city and the countryside”), completely ignoring the tragedies that befell the Ukrainian countryside during the 20th century. The above-mentioned led to the creation of an ideologically biased image of the countryside, which violated one of the most important methods of historical research – the method of objectivism. The second stage was a transitional one, during which a historiographical and methodological break occurred. In the late 1980s – early 1990s, due to the works written by L. Berenstein, S. Kulchytsky, P. Panchenko and other agrarian historians, the processes of de-ideologization and destruction of the Soviet myths have been initiated. The main emphasis was shifted to criticism of the collective farm system and rethinking the tragedies of the Ukrainian peasantry. The third stage was the modern one, which was characterized by methodological pluralism and interdisciplinarity. The main focus was on the human dimension of the transformational changes, the mentality of the peasantry, environmental factors and cultural transformations in the research and is becoming more relevant. The modern historical school seeks to implement global trends to move from a limited abstract description of facts to a thorough understanding of the role of the peasantry as an important component of the Ukrainian nation in modernization projects. Key words: historiography, methodology, agrarian history, peasantry, interdisciplinary approach, synergy .
2026-03-31
Mykhailo ORLYK, Vasyl ORLYK
The purpose of the study is to investigate the problem of the use of ancient coins as ornaments by the population of the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe in the 4th century BC – early 3rd century AD. Methodology : In the course of the research, the authors employed a range of general scientific, historical, and numismatic methods. Particular attention was paid to the descriptive research method. That is, the authors sought to provide a detailed and accurate account of the numismatic artifacts of the 4th century BC – early 3rd century AD discovered in the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe that “survived” the process of demonetization, i.e., the transformation of a coin from a means of payment into an ornament. The scientific novelty : For the first time, the article analyzes a series of gold ornaments made from coins as objects of jewelry art in unity with the numismatic artifacts that served as the basis for their production. The use of numismatic imagery from the coins of the Bosporan Kingdom in the manufacture of gold plaques by Scythian craftsmen is also examined. The Conclusions : In the course of this study, the authors analyzed the finds from the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe of 30 coins dating from the 4th century BC – early 3rd century AD that were transformed into ornaments (amulets), as well as a number of gold plaques imitating the coins of Panticapaeum. Information about these finds is contained in diverse sources: museum websites, scholarly works, the “Coins of Bospor” catalogue-archive website, and metal-detecting forums. Part of the information regarding the finds of “demonetized” coins was obtained personally by the authors from local historians. Taken together, this evidence made it possible to form a comprehensive understanding of the use of gold coins and their imitations in the material culture of the population of the Northern Black Sea region, the Ukrainian Steppe, and the Forest-Steppe in the 4th century BC – early 3rd century AD. Keywords: non-monetary uses of coins, coins as amulets, Greek coin-set jewellery, gold plaques.
2026-03-31
Irada Mehtigulu HUSEYNOVA, Nasrin Famil MEHDIYEVA
The study of the emergence and evolution of territorial and border problems in the South Caucasus during the Soviet period is of a particular relevance today. Considering that the roots of modern territorial conflicts in the South Caucasus originate from the political processes that took place in the early twentieth century, the main purpose of the research is to analyse the historical background of these disputes, to examine the policy of border formation during the Soviet era, and to assess the impact of this policy on the contemporary situation in the region. Research Methodology. The study is based on frontier theory, which interprets borders not simply as fixed geographical lines but as dynamic political and administrative constructs shaped by power relations, security strategies, and processes of identity formation. From this perspective, a border is not merely a geographical concept; it is also a socio-political phenomenon closely connected with the construction of national identity, the preservation of collective memory, and the formation of historical and political narratives. Following Etienne Balibar’s conceptualization of borders as politically constructed and dispersed spaces rather than fixed territorial lines, this study interprets Soviet border-making in the South Caucasus as a dynamic process shaped by power relations and identity politics. Within the Soviet context, borders in the South Caucasus operated as flexible frontier zones that were repeatedly modified through administrative restructuring and political intervention. The research employs historiographical and comparative analysis, systematisation of archival materials, identification of cause-and-effect relationships in political decision-making, analytical generalisation, and spatial and temporal evaluation. Various archival documents, official decrees, and ideological approaches of the Soviet period are examined in order to reveal the mechanisms of Soviet national policy and border formation. The scientific novelty lies in the application of frontier theory to reinterpret Soviet border-making policies in the South Caucasus as a dynamic and politically constructed process, supported by newly introduced archival materials. The study systematically reveals the influence of the “temporary” nature of borders after the incorporation of the South Caucasus republics into the Soviet Union, frequent border changes and population relocations on the political map and ethnodemographic structure of the region. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the transformation of borders in the South Caucasus during the Soviet era is analysed for the first time through a comprehensive approach, combining political decisions, archival materials, ethnic factors, territorial claims, administrative subordination and regional strategies. The research proves that the deliberate maintenance of instability in borders served as a mechanism for deepening tensions among the republics, strengthening political dependence and contributing to the formation of long-term conflicts that continue to this day. Conclusions. The results show that the borders within the USSR in the South Caucasus were not formed on ethnic, historical or legal principles, which made them unstable and turned them into a subject of territorial dispute after the collapse of the Soviet empire. The consequences of Soviet national and border policies are considered one of the main causes of ongoing conflicts in the region. Therefore, the scientific analysis of current developments, the study of historical experience and the objective evaluation of past political decisions remain essential for understanding the contemporary geopolitical processes in the South Caucasus. Key words: South Caucasus, Soviet Empire, regional conflicts, administrative-territorial division, territorial-border issues, national interests, disputed territories
2026-03-31
Nadiia VOITOVYCH, Yuriy KASARABA
The purpose of the study is to elucidate the women’s movement in Galicia, focusing on its efforts to expand women’s rights and improve the cultural, socio-economic, and living conditions of the Ukrainian women. A chief focus is on the issue of the way the movement helped bridge the civilizational gap between the urban and rural everyday life of the Ukrainian women . Therefore, t he study highlights the communication channels that fostered connections between women who lived in urban and rural areas (e.g., participation in women ’ s organizations, vocational training courses, summer “vacation” trips, and employment in cities and towns) . The research methodology is grounded on the principle of historicism and employs both general and specialized scientific methods, with an emphasis on comparative historical analysis. A key source for this study is the women’s press of the 1920s–1930s. Although such sources are often subjective, emotional, and sometimes imprecise, being subject to a certain arbitrariness of interpretation , they provide a valuable repository of factual information, which has been analyzed in the study. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the use of the periodicals such as “Women ’ s Fate”, “Nova Khata”, “Nyva”, as well as memoir literature to analyze – for the first time in the Ukrainian historical science – the women’s movement in interwar Galicia in the context of everyday life and efforts to overcome the civilizational divide between city and countryside. The study also explores the cooperation between female movement leaders and peasant women. The findings contribute to future research in the areas of everyday rural life in Galicia, urban studies, and the history of the women’s movement. Conclusions. The analysis of interwar Galician women’s magazines reveals the specific character of the women’s movement during this period and illustrates how its leaders engaged with the worldview of peasant women. They created communication channels that helped to narrow the gap between urban and rural life. When these two worlds intersected, women gained both positive and negative experiences. Nevertheless, these encounters gradually diminished the civilizational divide, elevated educational, cultural, and social standards in rural Galicia, and contributed to women’s emancipation while resisting the assimilation policies of the Polish authorities. Internal and external misogyny, passivity, and the lack of unity among women sometimes hindered cooperation. At the same time, everyday practices of mutual support between urban intellectuals and rural women were common. These practices of a mutual support included sharing knowledge about the body and self-care, home and child-care, as well as providing access to education, vocational training, and opportunities for creative expression through participation in women's societies, courses, and circles. Key words: Galicia, women ’ s movement, city, village, women, civilizational distance, everyday life.
2026-03-31
Olha KOLIASTRUK, Olha ZUBKO
The article focuses on the analysis of the photography documentary potential as a visual source for studying the everyday life of Ukrainian intelligentsia in emigration in the Czechoslovak Republic during the interwar period. The purpose of the article is to reveal the possibilities of using photography as a visual source for learning and understanding of the everyday life of Ukrainian intellectuals under conditions of physical separation from their homeland, while at the same time they were full of hope for a return to the restored Ukrainian state. The methodology of the research involves an integral combination of research tools and methods from several socio-humanitarian disciplines, in particular history, sociology, cultural studies, etc. At the same time, the historical and anthropological approaches of the analysis require reliance on special methods of studying everyday life, in particular according to the phenomenology of A. Schutz, and theoretical and methodological recommendations of visual sociology by P. Sztompka. The main volume of photography’s come from the “Prague Archive”, which was consciously formed by the emigrants themselves. After the end of the war, it was transferred to Ukraine under the reparations programme. The Soviet special services censored it, partially destroyed it and distributed it to Central State Archive of the Higher Authorities of Ukraine, Central State Archive of Public Organizations and Ukrainian Studies, H. S. Pshenychny Central State Film, Photo and Audio Archive of Ukraine, Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive. The archival collections are supplemented by family albums and private collections. The subject area of the article includes photographs of socio-anthropological content, which reflect the public and professional activities of emigrants, socio-cultural events, education, as well as the family and private world, leisure, recreation, entertainment, travel, etc. The scientific novelty of the publication consists in the fact that it attempts to analyze photographs as visual evidence of an everyday life of the intelligentsia in emigration, not limited to their representative, obvious (factual) eloquence regarding the material side of life, but also to reveal their deep symbolic potential for tracking value and axiological characteristics, social attitudes that determined the meanings of the emigrant community's existence. Conclusions. From the available photographs, we can draw conclusions not only about the material side of the everyday life of emigrants, but also about their moods, experiences, emotions, trace the intentions and goals of their activities, analyze the degree of their social adaptation, the ability to accept challenges and the ability to communicate in new circumstances, establish cultural consumption, and clarify taste preferences. The objects of daily use in private space and during public and cultural events recorded in the photographs reveal the desire to preserve one's national identity and contribute to the restoration of the Ukrainian statehood. Key words : Ukrainian intelligentsia, emigration, everyday life, photography, visual documents, Prague archive, Museum of Liberation Struggle of Ukraine, personal sources, informational and memorial functions of photographs.
2026-03-31
Stepan KOBUTA, Yuriy PYLYPENKO
The purpose of the study is to elucidate the public work and cultural activities of the Ukrainian lawyers-notaries, their place in the public life of the Galician lands during the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Polish state of the interwar period. The focus is drawn to undeservedly forgotten figures who, despite the professional ban on participation in public affairs, made efforts for the national development of the Ukrainian people. The research methodology is determined by the application of historicism and objectivity principles. In the research there have been used specific historical, historical comparative, biographical, and behavioral methods. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the need to fill the research gap regarding the place of Ukrainian notaries in the public life of the Ukrainians, to highlight and specify the participation of representatives of this legal profession in the public and cultural life of Galicia during the period under analysis , and to elucidate the reflect ion of their worldview in various forms of activity. Conclusions . Thus, the process t of the Ukrainian notary public development was correlated in time with the process of the rise of the Ukrainian social movement in Galicia and the struggle for the national and political rights of the Ukrainian people. Therefore, the Ukrainian notaries were part of this movement, joining the activities of public societies, supporting the efforts of educational and cultural development of the oppressed people in their spare time. The work of the Ukrainian lawyers in the development of the notarial work under the conditions of the Austro-Hungarian and Polish states was determined by the existing bans for civil servants on the public manifestation of political and social views. But despite such restrictions, some notaries joined the active public life of Ukrainian societies at the workplace, demonstrating their commitment and support for the national development in various ways and forms. Such lawyers included notaries of different generations K. Telishevsky, I. Rudnytsky, V. Lushpynsky, L. Huzar, I. Hrabovensky, R. Zayachkivsky, etc. Carrying out their professional work, they expanded the field of use of the Ukrainian language in official records, supported or even headed educational societies, and made financial donations to public causes. Among the notaries, two bright literary figures stood out: V. Levytsky-Lukych and M. Mochulsky. For them, literary creativity, journalism, editorial and publishing activities became an integral part of their life path, a way of their own self-expression, which complemented the main legal work. These creative individuals reflected not only the contemporary reality in their works, but also demonstrated high examples of various genres of literary creativity. Key words: Galicia, public activity, literary, notary, lawyer, “Prosvita”.