About Us
Who We Are
The Ukrainian Institute London is an independent charity that champions Ukrainian culture and shapes the conversation about Ukraine in the UK and beyond. We engage experts, creatives, policymakers and active citizens to explore Ukrainian perspectives on global challenges.
Anne Applebaum
At talk ‘Ukraine Can Win’, 2 October 2022
Photo credit Natalie Godec
CASSANDRA at Omnibus Theatre
UK premiere of Lesia Ukrainka’s masterpiece,
October 2022
Photo credit Harry Elletson
What We Do
With our diverse programme of public-facing events, educational courses and digital content, we enable audiences around the world to access nuanced and reliable information about Ukraine.
The UIL is an independent UK-registered charity affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.
Our Story
The Ukrainian Institute London was founded in 1979 by Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, following his release from the Soviet Gulag.
In the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church was suppressed, and Josyf Slipyj was arrested alongside many other members of the Church in 1945. The Lviv Theological Academy (predecessor of the Ukrainian Catholic University), of which Josyf Slipyj was the first rector, was also disbanded.
After enduring 18 years of hard labour in Soviet camps, Josyf Slipyj was released following pressure from Pope John XXIII and President John F. Kennedy.
Free but in exile, Josyf Slipyj, now Cardinal and Confessor of Faith, returned to his life’s work of strengthening UGCC ecclesiastical and educational structures.
In 1963, he resurrected and transformed the disbanded Lviv Theological Academy into a new Ukrainian Catholic University based in Rome, and established affiliates of the university in Europe and America. In 1979, Patriarch Slipyj acquired the building at 79 Holland Park to house the London affiliate of the university.
Today
Nearly 20 years after his death, Patriarch Slipyj’s dream of creating a fully developed university in Ukraine was realised. In 2002, the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) opened in Lviv.
Today, UCU is Ukraine’s leading independent university, and is open to students of all faiths. It continues to maintain strong links with its affiliates in America and Europe, including the Ukrainian Institute London based at 79 Holland Park, now a registered charity dedicated to broadening knowledge about Ukraine in the UK.
Giving Ukraine a voice in the UK
Since 1979 when it was established, the Ukrainian Institute London has been led by its directors – Prof Petro Cymbalistyj 1979-2004, Marta Jenkala 2004-2010, Andy Hunder 2010-2015, Marina Pesenti 2015-2020 and Olesya Khromeychuk 2020-present. In 2016, the Institute was registered as a charity in England and Wales, a board of trustees was formed and the executive team was expanded. In recent years, the Institute has grown to be a major actor in giving Ukraine a voice in the UK and beyond.
Photo of 79 Holland Park signed by Josyf Slipyj ‘London Affiliate of UCU, founded 1979’
The Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv
Serhii Plokhy and Luke Harding, ‘Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy’ at the British Library, May 2019
Our Team
Olesya Khromeychuk
DIRECTOR
Oksana Popova
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Anton Trofimchuk
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Maliek Banat
Public Relations Officer
Sasha Dovzhyk
SPECIAL PROJECTS CURATOR
Olga Sydorushkina
PROGRAMME CURATOR
Sofiia Melnyk
EVENTS FELLOW
Olha Lupuliak
ENGLISH SCHOOL FELLOW
Maryna Dubyna
KULTURA FELLOW
Constance Uzwyshyn
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ADVISOR
Marina Pesenti
ADVISOROur Partners
