Dear Colleagues!

The Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition non-governmental Analytical Centre, with the assistance of the State Enterprise ‘Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions’, invites you to the roundtable discussion for foreign diplomatic missions, leading Ukrainian media outlets, and expert circles on a topic entitled The Road to Freedom: A History of Liberation Struggles of Nations, which will take place on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:10 pm at the Media Center Directorate of the GDIP located at 6-A Pyrohova St, Kyiv. The event will combine offline and online participation modes.

During the event, we will present the English-language publication Involuntary Integration: Chronicles of Resistance in Nations Subjugated by Russia. This book recounts the centuries-long history of resistance by peoples oppressed by russia — none of whom willingly joined the empire. Each of these nations seized even the narrowest opportunity to fight for independence and freedom from their oppressor and coloniser. The book illustrates how, despite failed attempts in the twentieth century, these peoples continue to defend their freedom and identity, resisting russian imperialism. The authors include prominent scholars and leaders of national liberation movements.

The speakers will discuss the following framework issues:

1. 1. The current phase of the liberation struggle of colonised nations;
   2. Prospects for the self-determination of peoples subjugated by russia;
   3. The potential disintegration of the russian empire;

• The formation of new independent states in the context of global security.

The speakers’ panel will feature: 

• Yurii SYROTIUK, Director of the Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition non-governmental Analytical Centre, Member of Parliament of Ukraine (7th convocation), Senior Sergeant of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (online); 
• Yurii OLIINYK, PhD in Political Science, Head of Research Programmes at the Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition;
• Oleksandr CHUPAK, Head of Economic Programmes at the Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition, translator of the book;
• Mykola VOLHOV, researcher of the Northwestern Caucasus, political technologist, founder and head of the POLITCONSULTANT.org political consultancy agency, member of the monitoring group at the Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition; 
• Ruslan GABBASOV, Bashkir nationalist, Head of the Committee of the Bashkir National Movement Abroad, Vice President of the Anti-Imperial Bloc of Nations, co-founder of the Bashkort organisation (online);
• Aida ABDRAKHMANOVA, Vice President of the Anti-Imperial Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, Deputy Head of Government of the Independent Tatarstan in Exile.

For registration and additional information, please contact Yelyzaveta Spivak, team member of the GDIP Media Center, by phone: at +38 (067) 665-73-00, via e-mail at prepress.gdip@gmail.com, or via the Google Form: https://forms.gle/GRPMjueyhaRfr21P6

Registration will remain open until 5 August 2025.

If you are arriving by your vehicle, please call +38 (067) 215-16-09 to have the barrier raised.

Join us!