Heritage and Culture

Returning to the Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum brought a mix of emotions for the Kent With Ukraine delegation. The school stands as a beacon of hope and resilience amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This visit marked the launch of the Gytha of Wessex Literary Competition, a new initiative designed to connect young people in Kent, England, with their peers in the Chernihiv region through the power of writing. This competition is more than just a contest; it is a brid

A particular highlight of Jordan’s recent working trip to Ukraine’s Chernihiv region was a visit to the home of film director and screenwriter Oleksandr Dovzhenko in the town of Sosnytsia. More than a stop on an official itinerary, the visit was a prime opportunity for Kent With Ukraine to learn more about Dovzhenko and to connect Ukraine’s past cultural achievements with the present struggle to defend its future. Oleksandr Dovzhenko was born in Sosnytsia in 1894, a small tow

In November 2024, a significant moment in the story of Kent’s support for Ukraine was reached as the Leader of Kent County Council, Roger Gough, and County Councillor Jordan Meade travelled to the Chernihiv Region, a region that has endured some of the most intense devastation of Russia’s full-scale invasion, to formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between our two regions. This was not simply a diplomatic visit. It was the formalisation of something much deeper:

Jordan and Rosemary recently experienced a rare privilege: a private tour of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. This visit offered them a unique chance to connect directly with those dedicated to preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage amid the ongoing war. When Russia claim in their lies cultural superiority over Ukraine, it’s worth remembering this: when the foundation stone of Saint Sophia Cathedral was laid in Kyiv, Moscow did not even exist. It was a swamp. Kyiv, meanwhile,

As part of their recent travels around Ukraine to learn more about the impact of the war on heritage, culture and religion, Jordan and Rosemary had the incredible privileged of be shown around the immensely beautiful St Andrew's Church in the centre of Kyiv. Constructed in 1747, this rare example of Elizabethan Baroque architecture is situated on the steep hill where St Andrew the Apostle foretold that this sacred spot would be the cradle of Christianity in the Slavic lands.