The Density of Ukraine: UHGI's Toronto Workshop

The UHGI brings together researchers from disciplines ranging from archaeogenetics to art history to build a shared understanding of the long history of the people and lands that are now Ukraine. From ancient peoples to the Cold War and beyond, the the project aims to make Ukraine’s complex history legible to everyone. As Professor Timothy Snyder, Chair of the UHGI International Academic Advisory Council, stated, making Ukrainian history accessible to broader audiences will “address the density of Ukraine.”  

On May 7 and 8, the Public History Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy hosted a workshop for twelve UHGI scholars to discuss their research, hear feedback, and deepen collaboration with fellow scholars across the project.  

Moderated by Dr. Daniel Fedorowycz, a research associate at the Public History Lab, the workshop featured presentations on topics including the early nomadic peoples of Ukraine, the Rus’, the Cold War, and, as Serhii Plokhii, Professor of Ukrainian History and Director of Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University, described it, the “landing” rather than the collapse of communism in Ukraine.  

The format provided presenters with feedback from both specialists in their fields and scholars in other disciplines, strengthening the final work while broadening exposure to research beyond their traditional specialties. This unique feature bridged the gap between Cold War historians like Ball State University Professor Sergei Zhuk and Mesopotamian specialists like John M. Musser Professor of Assyriology Eckhart Frahm.  

More broadly, the project will help challenge longstanding tropes about specific groups, including stereotypical portrayals of the Rus’ and the nomadic people of the steppe. Participants also emphasized that they were writing not only for a contemporary audience, but for readers 20, 30, or even 50 years from now, giving the project a sense of durability and lasting value. 

Beyond the formal sessions, discussion continued throughout the workshop. Scholars used breaks and lunch to compare approaches, debate interpretations, and reflect on broader historical questions raised by the project.  

What stood out over the two days of sessions was the incredible dedication to accurately retelling little-known history. The discussions of the ancient peoples of the Eurasian steppe, namely the Khazars and Pechenegs, were particularly fascinating. Hearing from top scholars in the field about the complex ways of life of these ancient peoples reinforced the idea that this project is a deep dive into the history of Ukraine, not just a focus on the most contemporary historical challenges. Ultimately, this project will have something for everyone, whether they are interested in geography and natural history or the history of art in Ukraine.  

The two days of discussion concluded with a look ahead to the next stage: the September 2026 UHGI conference in Kyiv, which will bring together the project’s participating scholars to continue the work undertaken in early May.  

Bio: 
Ilya Goheen is a recent graduate of the European Studies and Public Policy undergraduate programs at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. In the fall, he will continue his studies at the Munk School’s Center for European and Eurasian Studies, focusing on legitimacy and memory politics in Central and Eastern Europe.