In Ukrainian historical memory, the figure of Ivan Bohun is often caught between the romanticized image of a Cossack knight and numerous myths. However, for a modern leader, his life's trajectory is compelling not just for its military victories, but above all for his ability to act in conditions of extreme uncertainty—when the rules of the game change daily, and the cost of a mistake is measured by the state's very existence.

Bohun was one of the few who understood that statehood is not just about freedom, but also about institutional capacity. His refusal to swear allegiance to the Muscovite tsar or his resistance during the "Ruin" were not mere displays of stubbornness. It was the conscious choice of an agent who sought to design Ukraine's future outside the framework of externally imposed scenarios. He assessed the potential of contemporary political alliances and sought space for his own decisions and responsibility, all while preserving identity.

What is the logic of a leader capable of going against the current for a strategic goal? Where is the line between compromise and the loss of agency? On May 6, at the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine, we will discuss these questions at the presentation of a new, in-depth study on Ivan Bohun by Tetiana Tairova-Yakovleva.

This book is an attempt to analyze the mindset of a man who combined vision, rationality, and unwavering faith. We will look at Bohun as one of the architects of the 17th-century Ukrainian "political nation" and determine which of his ideas remain relevant today.

The event will feature:

Tetiana Tairova-Yakovleva, the book's author, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, and researcher of Ukrainian history of the 16th–18th centuries;
Yaroslav Fedoruk, Doctor of Historical Sciences (M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine);
Vasyl Kononenko, scholarly editor of the publication, Candidate of Historical Sciences (Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine);
Vladyslav Yatsenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences (M. S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies);
Roman Mudryi, Doctor of Juridical Science, philanthropist, and kmbs alumnus;
Oleksandr Savruk, Dean of kmbs;
Vira Soloviova, Director of "Klio" Publishing House.

Moderator: Anton Drobovych, a Ukrainian philosopher, lawyer, public figure, and government official.

Date: May 6; 5:00 PM.
Location: Kyiv, Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine.
Admission is free. Registration is available at the link: https://bit.ly/4ua2ddP

We invite you to join the conversation

Presentation of the book "Ivan Teodorovych Bohun. Biography"