On the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine, join us for a talk by Elmira Muratova, post-doctoral researcher at the European Centre for Minority Issues and Nadia Zasanska, research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center for European Studies at the Europa-Universität Flensburg, co-editors of the book “Minorities at War. Cultural Identity and Resilience in Ukraine”, published by Routledge in November 2024.
The book focuses on Ukraine’s ethno-cultural minorities who in recent years have undergone forced displacement, emigration, the destruction of familiar ways of life, and a transformation of identity and language behaviour. The book examines the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began with the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas in 2014. It shows what happens to the cultural identities of minority groups and considers the mechanisms and components of their resilience in times of crisis. Key themes addressed include minorities’ collective memory and coping strategies, mobilisation and humanitarianism, forced displacement, and the preservation of identity. While most works on the Russo-Ukrainian war focus on the international context and the causes of the war and its humanitarian consequences for the population of Ukraine and the region, this book seeks to mainstream the issue of ethno-cultural minorities, which is often neglected in the coverage of this type of conflict.
Their presentation will be followed by a moderated discussion with Inna Șupac, researcher at bicc, on the key arguments of the book. It will provide insights into the ways in which minorities in Ukraine have experienced Russia’s full-scale invasion, as well as its impact on social cohesion and sense of belonging.
