Ukraine's Component in the Platform of European Memory and Conscience

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Bringing Ukraine closer to EU membership, accelerating European integration, participating in international projects, enhancing public policy on national memory, strengthening efforts to overcome the communist totalitarian and Russian imperial past, and forming a cohesive national identity all contribute to Ukraine's integration into the pan-European humanitarian space and memory policy. The formation of European collective memory involves the participation of many international organizations, including the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, founded in 2011. The Platform facilitates frequent discussions on overcoming the communist totalitarian past in Central and Eastern European countries. Ukraine, one of the post-communist states that endured the longest period of Soviet occupation (1917-1991), is a direct participant in forming and implementing European memory policy. Six Ukrainian public organizations are members of the Platform, with the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance as the central executive body responsible for implementing state policy on national memory. This article examines the participation of Ukrainian institutions in the Platform from 2012 to 2023. It analyzes the events organized by the Platform, such as annual meetings of the Platform Members Council, international conferences and meetings, and Ukraine’s involvement in these events. Two main aspects of Ukraine’s informational presence in the Platform’s activities are highlighted: (1) overcoming the communist totalitarian past and condemning the crimes of the Soviet government, and (2) confronting Russian aggression and condemning the crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine.