Olesya Khromeychuk

During her Lesia Ukraїnka Senior Visiting Fellowship at the IWM, Olesya Khromeychuk will aim to rethink the concept of displacement not as a story of loss and defeat, but as a condition that has, paradoxically, contributed to the forging of Ukraine as a resilient political nation. Drawing on evidence from the 20th century and Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, Khromeychuk will explore how repeated waves of imperial aggression have forced Ukrainians to transform exile into a cultural and political asset. She will examine how displacement fosters multilingual, multicultural identities, and how knowledge gained in exile can be reinvested in the homeland. She will also reflect on how language shapes our perception of home and belonging, as well as how it shapes the displaced themselves. Blending personal experience with historical narratives, Khromeychuk offers a philosophical re-evaluation of displacement, resonating far beyond Ukraine at a time when forced migration continues to affect millions globally.