In Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, a solemn special event took place: finissage of the exhibition “Crossroads: Sweden – Ukraine (1000 years)”. The event gathered organizers, participants and key partners of the project to once again draw attention to the unique exhibition and thank everyone involved in its realization.
The international project “Crossroads…”, dedicated to the thousand-year-old historical ties between Sweden and Ukraine: from the era of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise and his wife, Grand Princess Ingegerd, to the present day, when Sweden provides comprehensive support to our nation during the full-scale Russian invasion. His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden solemnly opened the exhibition on February 15, 2024, at the Swedish Army Museum in Stockholm. The co-organizers included the National Swedish Museums of Military History, which includes Swedish Army Museum, National Archives of Sweden and War Museum. In total, the project united almost 30 museums, archives and libraries from both countries, making in the largest international historical museum event in Ukraine since independence.
The finissage was moderated and opened by Fabian Arnheim, Director of the Swedish Army Museum and one of the exhibition’s curators. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the projects significant public impact, which crossed the symbolic milestone of 100,000 visitors during the exhibition.
For the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Sweden, Svitlana Zalishchuk, who was present at the event, finissage symbolically marked the beginning of her term. In her speech, the ambassador remarked that, at the time when Russia is attacking Ukrainian culture and identity, the exhibition had become a kind of “anti-missile defense”, allowing people to look at Ukrainian history impartially.
Director General of National Swedish Museums of Military History Ms. Helene Rånlund, called the preparation of the exhibition a “life-changing journey” and mentioned the value of special moment, when Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation visited the exhibition.
One such moment was also remember by Director General of National Swedish Archives Karin Åström Iko, when Ukrainian soldier hugged her and said that he now had additional motivation to return and fight against Russians invaders for Ukrainian and European freedom.
Director General of the War Museum and co-curator of the exhibition Yurii Savchuk noted that project is the result of more than thirty-year cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine, which has connected several generation of museum and archive professionals from various institutions. He emphasized the leading role of the National Swedish Museums of Military History and Swedish Army Museum, which became unifying center of this collaboration, and he thanked former Directors, Leif Törnquist and Johan Engström, who were stood at its origins.
Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Michael Claesson, also addressed the audience. He emphasized the importance of unwavering support from Sweden and Europe for Ukraine at this new crossroads of the historical ways of our countries.
A musical bonus of the program was the performance of Ukrainian pianist Natalia Pasichnyk, who presented for guests creative works of prominent famous Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the exhibition led by Yurii Savchuk. A particularly pleasant moment was the presence of a Ukrainian delegation, including representatives from the participating institutions: Director General of the National Historical and Cultural Reverse “Hetman’s Capital” in Baturyn Tetiana Kerbut, Director of M. F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum Olha Soshnikova, Head of Culural Department of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Natalia Mashnitska and employees of the War Museum.
The exhibition “Crossroads: Sweden-Ukraine (1000 years)” has already become a foundation for building new partnerships. We are confident that the tree of Ukrainian-Swedish museum cooperation, planted two decades ago, will continue to bear abundant fruit for the benefit of our nations.
