Ukrainian Studies in Times of War and International Crisis

How have Ukrainian Studies changed over the past decade – and what challenges does the field face today?

On 30 October 2026, Ukrainian Research in Switzerland (URIS) hosts the international workshop “Ukrainian Studies in Times of War and International Crisis: Challenges, Achievements, and Perspectives 2017–2026” at the University of Basel.

The past decade has profoundly changed both Ukraine and the study of Ukraine. Research conditions and academic landscapes have shifted, international networks have gained new importance, and Russia’s full-scale invasion has created new challenges for research, teaching and public engagement.

In three roundtables, former and current URIS Fellows and members of the Academic Advisory Board will bring together perspectives from different countries and academic disciplines. The workshop will explore how Ukrainian Studies have developed internationally, how research conditions, academic careers and networks have changed, and what challenges and perspectives lie ahead for the field. 

The workshop also marks an important milestone for URIS: 10 years of the URIS Fellowship Programme. Since 2017, the programme has brought internationally recognised scholars working on Ukraine to Basel to pursue their research, teach and share their expertise with students, colleagues and the wider public. We are delighted to celebrate this anniversary by bringing many former and current Fellows back together in Basel. 

The day concludes with the public panel discussion “Beyond the Headlines. Rethinking Ukraine since 2014: Academic Knowledge and Public Engagement” with Gwendolyn Sasse, Tetiana Kyselova, Maryna Shevtsova and Claude Wild. The panel will discuss how public debates about Ukraine have changed since 2014, which misconceptions persist, and what academic research can contribute to public debate beyond the daily news cycle. 

Everyone is welcome – no registration required. We look forward to seeing you in Basel!