Russian-Ukrainian War: Biographical Discourse on Ukrainian Heroes

Abstract

In this article, the author addresses the importance of encyclopedic publications aimed at highlighting and popularizing the defenders of Ukraine. These individuals not only protect their homeland in the war against Russia but also, through their successful and heroic deeds, defend the contemporary global order embodying a humanistic, democratic path of civilization development. The Russian-Ukrainian war, lasting almost a decade, with the last two years being full-scale and particularly brutal and destructive, has vividly exposed the gap between Ukrainians and Russians, dispelling long-held notions of fraternal nations. Ukrainians represent democracy, peace, and progress, while Russians embody totalitarianism, aggression, and decline. Throughout centuries, regardless of Russia's political system, it exploited Ukraine by annexing territories, exploiting natural resources, looting archaeological findings, destroying ancient landmarks, appropriating history, culture, language, and ruthlessly targeting talented Ukrainians, depriving the nation of its elite. Today, all masks have been torn off: the leadership of the Russian Federation seeks to permanently resolve the Ukrainian issue, committing genocide on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the war has “opened the eyes” of many Ukrainians, prompting them to recall not only the sad moments of its history but also times of glory and world fame. Stories of the victorious regiments of Russian-Ukrainians under Prince Sviatoslav, the daring Cossacks Ivan Sirko and Ivan Bohun, and the exploits of Ukrainians during the First and Second World Wars have come to the forefront. Ukrainian historical scholarship has already produced substantial research on these periods of military history, including encyclopedic formats. The building the biographical references, especially encyclopedias, about heroes of the Russian-Ukrainian war is relevant from various perspectives: not only preserving the memory of contemporary elite Ukrainians but also laying the groundwork for future research in history, including military history, and biographistics.