On Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the Ukrainian Studies for Strategic Disquisition non-governmental Analytical Centre, in cooperation with the State Enterprise ‘Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions’, hosted a roundtable discussion for foreign diplomatic missions, leading Ukrainian media outlets, and expert circles, entitled The Road to Freedom: A History of Liberation Struggles of Nations.
The programme featured the presentation of 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 ever 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 demonstrates how, despite unsuccessful attempts in the twentieth century, these peoples continue to defend their freedom and identity, resisting russian imperialism. Its authors include prominent scholars and leaders of national liberation movements.
Among the speakers of the roundtable were 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; 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; Aida Abdrakhmanova, Vice President of the Anti-Imperial Anti-Imperial Block of Nations, Deputy Head of Government of the Independent Tatarstan in Exile.
In his opening address, Yurii Syrotiuk spoke in detail about the urgent challenges faced by nations oppressed by russia and stressed the necessity and inevitability of dismantling the russian federation’s imperial policy:
‘Today we want to draw the world’s attention to the fact that russia remains an empire that must be decolonised. We have prepared this English-language edition of the book to show, through facts, that no nation ever joined russia voluntarily. Whenever even the smallest opportunity arose to gain independence, these peoples tried to use it. Russia consistently crushed those efforts with brutality and destroyed any aspiration to fight for independence. Russia must inevitably collapse and turn into a space for natural nation-states. To eliminate Western fears of a vacuum on the territory of the current russian federation, this book tells the stories of peoples with ancient histories, rich cultures, religious traditions, and the right to determine their own fate on their native lands.’
The discussion also covered a number of key issues, including the current stage of liberation movements among colonised peoples, the prospects for self-determination of nations subjugated by russia, the possible collapse of the russian empire, and the development of new independent states in the context of global security.
Diplomats and researchers actively contributed to the discussion.
