Online workshop – “How Do war archives shape our narratives?”

Ukraine and war Archives / online workshop – “How Do war archives shape our narratives?” June 6, 2025

Since the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 2022, Ukraine has faced major challenges related to the preservation, documentation, and valorization of its war archives. These archives play a crucial role in collective memory, international justice, and the country’s identity reconstruction. The war has led to the massive destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage. According to UNESCO, at least 231 cultural sites—including museums, monuments, and libraries—have been damaged or destroyed. In response, several institutions quickly began organizing exhibitions and initiatives to document the unfolding events.

The management of war archives in Ukraine is a complex and multifaceted issue that touches on memory, justice, identity, and sovereignty. Current efforts aim not only to preserve cultural heritage and document the ongoing conflict but also to better understand the country's evolving history.

A symposium titled “The Most Documented War” was held in Lviv from May 22 to 24, 2025, bringing together researchers, artists, and civil society actors involved in initiatives dedicated to war documentation. The symposium was organized by the Center for Urban History in Lviv, an independent research institute critically exploring urban transformations in Central Europe. The Center works in partnership with EHESS, the French Embassy in Ukraine, the EURETES Alliance, and the VIUAS program to foster scientific exchange and promote war-related archival work.

The symposium showcased various initiatives from across Ukraine and included comparative experiences from other contexts, including Syria and the United States.

INDEX is a program launched in Ukraine to document war narratives, support cultural actors, and strengthen the connections between research, journalism, and artistic creation. Through archives, residencies, and public dialogues, INDEX aims to preserve memory in real time and foster critical engagement with contemporary issues. INDEX was invited to contribute to the Lviv symposium.

As a continuation, INDEX will host an online workshop on June 6, 2025, entitled “How Do War Archives Shape Our Narratives?” with contributions from Natalie Nougayrède (French journalist, former editor-in-chief of Le Monde, editorial board member of The Guardian, currently editor at re/visions) and Charlotte Higgins (The Guardian).

The link to register