About Us ‣ Ukrainian Institute London

About Us

Mission

The Ukrainian Institute London (UIL) is an independent charity dedicated to championing Ukrainian culture and shaping the conversation about Ukraine in the UK and beyond. We bring together experts, creatives, policymakers, and active citizens to explore Ukrainian perspectives on global challenges.

Through our diverse programme of events, educational courses, and digital content, we provide audiences worldwide with nuanced and reliable information about Ukraine. We shed light on Ukraine’s knowledge and experiences to highlight the urgency of international solidarity in pursuit of democratic security in Europe and beyond.

The UIL is an independent charity registered in England and Wales. It is affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. Registered charity number: 1170753.

Vision

At the UIL, we see Ukraine as a rich source of invaluable experience. In the years ahead, our goal is to broaden our initiatives to share the lessons Ukraine has to offer, helping the international community address crucial issues such as justice, environmental challenges, neo-imperialist warfare, and other urgent matters affecting the UK, Ukraine, and the world at large.

In light of the recently signed historic 100-year partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine, our role has become more crucial than ever in strengthening cultural and intellectual ties between the two nations. Our long-term aspiration is to establish Ukraine House in London – a dedicated space for educational and public-facing activities, promoting international cooperation, fostering solidarity, and driving social change.

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.