Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) has long been a global leader in advancing the study of Ukrainian history, language, literature, and contemporary issues.
In this episode, Pawlina speaks with Dr. Oleg Kotsuba, Director of Publications at HURI, about the institute’s remarkable grassroots origins and its role in establishing Ukrainian studies as a respected academic field at a time when Ukraine had no agency under Soviet rule.
Dr. Kotsuba shares insights into HURI’s publishing program, which began even before the institute was formally founded. Today, it includes scholarly monographs, translations of contemporary Ukrainian literature, and works that document the lived experiences of Ukrainians amid war, displacement, and cultural revival. He discusses how authors such as Volodymyr Rafeyenko, Olena Stiazhkina, and Serhiy Zhadan are reshaping global understanding of Ukrainian identity—many of them transitioning from Russian to Ukrainian as an act of cultural reclamation.
The conversation also explores how HURI selects its authors, the crucial role of translators, and the institute’s commitment to amplifying under‑told Ukrainian stories. Dr. Kotsuba reflects on the challenges of running a micro‑press with a small team, the impact of geopolitical shifts on funding, and the importance of making Ukrainian voices accessible to readers worldwide.
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