Kherson State University

Today, the department's teachers and students of historical specialties joined a meeting with representatives of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraine and the Regional Inspectorate for the Protection of Monuments on the preservation of archaeological heritage from the time of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022 in the Kherson region. Olena Dzneladze, senior research associate, scientific secretary of the Department of Early Iron Age of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS, told the audience about the research of the Late Scythian period in the Kherson region, and together with Denis Sikoza, deputy head of the Regional Inspectorate for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Department of State Policy Implementation of the KHOVA, shared their experience in rescuing and preserving archaeological heritage in the Kherson region and in Ukraine during the war. Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology Iryna Shaposhnykova shared her memories of archaeological expeditions at the faculty that took place before the full-scale invasion.

Professor of the department, Oleksandr Cheremisin received the Gratitude of the State Scientific Institution "Institute for Modernization of Educational Content" for participation in the work of the jury of the 4th (final) stage of the XXV All-Ukrainian Student Creativity Competition. The award was presented for high professionalism, responsible work as part of the jury and contribution to the identification and support of talented student youth.
"For me, participation in the work of the jury of this competition is an important professional and civic mission. Such initiatives contribute to the development of historical culture, the formation of research skills of young people and the support of the intellectual potential of Ukrainian schoolchildren. After reviewing the presented works, I can say that modern student research increasingly demonstrates a high level of source culture, interest in the history of Ukraine and the desire for independent scientific research," - noted Cheremisin O.V.
We congratulate Oleksandr Viktorovych on the honorary award and wish him success and new achievements in scientific and teaching activities!

The Second (regional) stage of the competition for the defense of scientific and research works of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was held. 3 participants each took part in the Sections of the History of Ukraine and World History. In the World History section, 1st place was taken by Andriy Tymchenko, a student of the Lyceum "School of Humanitarian Work" of the Kherson Regional Council with the topic of the work "Winston Churchill's Crisis Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century." In the History of Ukraine section, 1st place was taken by Polina Sokol, a student of Kherson Secondary School of I-III Degrees No. 55 of the Kherson Regional Council with the topic of the work "Cossack Life of the 21st Century." The defense took place in three stages from February 9 to 27, 2026 - correspondence assessment, poster defense and scientific conference. Traditionally, the staff of the Department of History, Archaeology and Teaching Methods took an active part in the work, the jury was headed by Professor Serhiy Grigorovich Vodotyka, and the jury member was former graduate of the department, Associate Professor Hanna Vasylivna Konovalova. The supervisors of almost all student works were graduates of our department who currently work in the educational field.

In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine on the holding of the 4th (final) stage of the XXV All-Ukrainian Competition of Student Creativity, which took place during February 10 - 25, 2026, Professor of the Department of History, Archaeology and Teaching Methods Oleksandr Cheremisin was included in the jury. Mr. Oleksandr joined the jury in the nomination "History of Ukraine and State Building". Participation in the jury for Oleksandr Viktorovych became an important component of expert activity in the final stage of the competition, which is aimed at supporting the creative and intellectual potential of student youth.
"Participation in the jury's work is also evidence of trust in the professional expertise of historians of Kherson State University and at the same time demonstrates the active participation of the university's historical school in supporting students' scientific initiatives. Such competitions play an important role in popularizing historical knowledge, forming a culture of research thinking, and supporting those who may join the ranks of professional historians in the future," noted Oleksandr Cheremisin.

On February 24, 2026, the III International Conference “Southern Ukraine and the Full-Scale Military Invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022: Source Aspect, Directions of Historical Research, Memorialization” was held.
The event was organized by Kherson State University. The conference brought together scholars from Ukraine and European universities for a professional understanding of the experience of war, occupation and liberation of Ukrainian territories.
Traditionally, the event was opened by the head of the university, Oleksandr Spivakovsky. The rector recalled how he perceived the news about the beginning of the war, how he was returning to Kherson, because he was on a business trip, how the decision to relocate the university was made. Robert Kuśneż, professor, doctor of habilitated, director of the Institute of History of the Pomeranian University in Slupsk, also addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. The Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology, Iryna Shaposhnykova, also spoke, drawing attention to the importance of holding such events and wishing fruitful work to the conference participants.

On February 23, 2026, Professor of the Department Oleksandr Cheremisin visited Ivano-Frankivsk at Lyceum No. 5, where he participated in commemorative events dedicated to the anniversary of the events of the "Revolution of Dignity" and honoring the feat of the "Heavenly Hundred". The meeting with schoolchildren was aimed at understanding the experience of modern Ukrainian history through the prism of events in the South, in particular in Kherson. In his story, the professor recalled the first attempts by the Russians to capture the village of Strilkove, Kherson region, as harbingers of further aggression, and also emphasized the failure of attempts to destabilize the region by imposing a pseudo-republic scenario. Special attention was paid to the events of February 24, 2022 - the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation and the situation of Kherson under temporary occupation. During the conversation with the schoolchildren, he also revealed the phenomenon of civil resistance of the townspeople, in particular, mass pro-Ukrainian speeches on Freedom Square, as a manifestation of the city's unbreakable Ukrainian identity. 

Within the week of full-time study, first-year students of the second (master's) level of higher education who arrived for practice worked on the stage of preparing materials of the Archaeological Museum of KhSU for exhibition.

And according to tradition, after a working day - an acquaintance with the friendly streets and sights of Ivano-Frankivsk.

On February 16, a week of full-time study began for applicants to the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology of Kherson State University. An official meeting was held with representatives of the faculty, and applicants who arrived at the Ivano-Frankivsk office of KhSU were warmly welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty, Iryna Shaposhnykova, and guarantors of educational and professional programs.
During this week, applicants for historical specialties of the second (master's) level of higher education will undergo practice at the Archaeological Museum of KhSU. We wish the applicants and their mentors fruitful work.

On February 12, Kherson State University held a ceremony to award diplomas to the 2025 class of master's graduates. The event was held under the symbolic title "Stepping into the Future". Graduates of the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology were congratulated by the rector of the university, Oleksandr Spivakovskyi, and the dean of the faculty, Iryna Shaposhnykova. Among historians, this year, the diploma for excellent academic achievements was received by Derkachenko Vira.
We sincerely congratulate the graduates on this important event! Today you are turning over another significant page in your own biography, full of hard work, scientific research, discoveries and deep understanding of the past.
You have chosen the path of knowledge of history - a science that forms the memory of the people, teaches you to think critically, analyze events and responsibly treat the future. May the knowledge you gain become a solid foundation for your professional activities, a source of wisdom, inspiration and civic position.

We sincerely thank the organizers of the University School of Professional Development of Kherson State University for the opportunity to join and successfully complete the course "University Teacher: Branding, Digital Adaptation and Internal Communication in the Context of Social Transformations".
The knowledge and practical tools obtained will contribute to the further professional development of teachers, the implementation of modern educational approaches and the strengthening of effective communication in the academic environment.

For applicants of the 2nd and 3rd years of the first (bachelor's) level of higher education in the specialties 014 History, specializations 014 History and Civic Education and 032 History and Archaeology, the second semester of this year begins with educational practice. The head of the educational (Archaeological) practice, Oleg Yurievich Boykov, held an orientation conference for second-year students, during which the purpose of the practice, main tasks and conditions for conducting it were determined.
Third-year students began educational (Museum) practice, the head of which is Hanna Vyacheslavovna Batenko. The Kherson Regional Museum of Local Lore traditionally serves as the base for educational practice. Musiyko Viktoriia Viktorivna, deputy director of the museum for scientific work, met with young historians and gave a lecture on the basics of methodological work of a specialist. A detailed presentation highlighted the content of basic documents, gave examples of the work of museum workers in conditions of full-scale military operations in Kherson and the region.

The topic of today's mini-lecture: "Kherson Harbinians. History in photographs"
Harbin seems far away. But it was the events surrounding the China-Eastern Railway that changed the fate of thousands of Ukrainians, including those from the Kherson region.
Through archival documents and photographs of the Kherson Harbinian Vasyl Zheltukha, Kuzovova N.M. tells about a little-known but important page of Ukrainian history of the 20th century: the imperial confrontation in Manchuria and the "Harbin operation" of the NKVD.
Events in the Far East were not peripheral - they directly influenced the fate of Ukrainians and Ukraine.
We offer to watch the lecture by calling:  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14WftMZjbs7/

As part of career guidance work and popularization of history, the head of the department, Natalia Kuzovova, continues a series of short lectures. Today's lecture is dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Krut Heroes, which is celebrated annually in Ukraine on January 29.
For us, this day symbolizes the feat of the younger generation in the fight for Ukrainian independence.
106 years ago, Ukrainian troops and volunteers who joined them stopped the Bolshevik offensive on Kyiv for several days. These few days were extremely important, because at that time negotiations were underway in Brest between the Ukrainian People's Republic and the countries of the Quadruple Alliance on the signing of a peace treaty.
For a long time, there were many myths about the Krut heroes - supposedly there were only 300 of them, like 300 Spartans, and they all died. But this was certainly not the case. And confirmation of this is the biography of Yuriy Vorony, a Kherson and Kharkiv doctor, then a doctor of the dressing regiment of the Central Military District of the Ukrainian People's Republic, who participated in the battle near Kruty.
We offer to watch the video by calling: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14W1xZzPjEP/

At the initiative of the Commission on Culture and Spiritual Development at the City Student Parliament of Kherson, Kherson State University united the students of Kherson schools around the Day of the Congregation. On the occasion of celebrating this important date in our history, professor of the department Oleksandr Cheremisin gave a lecture. Among those present were students of schools, gymnasiums No. 55, 44, 6, 45, 4, 14, 24, 30, 20, 53, 50, 57, 58, Zelenivska ZZSO and many others. The conversation was important, because the idea of Sobornost is worldview. The path to unity was difficult, painful, but sure: from the Ukrainian flags in Kherson in 1919 to the chain of unity on the Antonivskyi Bridge in 2022. Solidarity is a principle that must be confirmed every time, respect each other, understand the diversity of regions, and at the same time be aware of the unity of the state space, common values, and common responsibility.

As part of the career guidance work, an excursion for IDP children from Kherson was held at the Archaeological Museum of Kherson State University. The informative story of the head of the museum, Oleksandr Viktorovych Cheremisin, about the ancient cities and settlements of the Northern Black Sea region and about the romance of archaeological research greatly interested the visitors. The opportunity to touch the artifacts of the collection of the Archaeological Museum of KhSU, feel the breath of history and better understand the development of civilizations will be remembered by teenagers for a long time.

After successfully defending their qualification theses, applicants for the second (master's) level of higher education at the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology, specialties 014 Secondary Education specialization 014.03 History and Civic Education and 032 History and Archaeology, together with teachers of the Department of History, Archaeology and Teaching Methods and the head of the certification commission, visited the Archaeological Museum of Kherson State University. We remind you that the priceless exhibits were saved and taken from Kherson to Ivano-Frankivsk during the war. The visitors were warmly welcomed by the head of the museum, professor of the department Oleksandr Viktorovych Cheremisin, who spoke about the culture, way of life and beliefs of ancient civilizations that have long inhabited the South of Ukraine. While examining the artifacts, those present also learned which ancient sites and settlements were excavated by the Archaeological Expedition of KhSU.

Within the week of full-time study, on the basis of the Ivano-Frankivsk office of Kherson State University, applicants for the second (master's) level of higher education in the specialties 014 Secondary Education, specialization 014.03 History and Civic Education and 032 History and Archaeology defended their qualification works (projects). The certification commission noted that the works were performed at a high level, distinguished by the depth of scientific analysis, originality of approaches and significant practical value. Applicants demonstrated high-quality training, deep knowledge and the ability to present the results of their work, which is an important step on the path to scientific and career growth.

Dear masters, we congratulate you on this significant event in your life and wish that the acquired knowledge will become a powerful foundation for your further professional growth, the implementation of your boldest ideas, and new successes!

On December 17, an interuniversity meeting of guarantors of educational programs of the specialty Secondary Education, subject specialization History and Civic Education of the first (bachelor's) level was held. The speaker from the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University was the guarantor of the OP, Ph.D. in History, Associate Professor of the Department of History of Ukraine and Methods of Teaching History Korolko Andriy Zinoviyovych, who presented the vision of building a structural-logical line of studying historical local history and positive practices of teaching local history disciplines at the OP. The experience of KhSU was presented by the guarantor of the OP, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and History of Teaching, Ph.D. in History, Associate Professor Natalya Kuzovova. The successful exchange of experience initiated the continuation of interuniversity meetings of guarantors of the first and second levels of higher education of this specialty at the beginning of the new semester 2025-2026 academic year. We are also happy to invite fellow guarantors and members of the support groups to discuss current issues.

On December 17, 2026, a guest lecture by Andriy Zinoviyovych Korolko, PhD in History, Associate Professor of the Department of History of Ukraine and Methods of Teaching History of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, was held on the topic: "Continuity of Research and Search Local History Work of General Secondary and Higher Education Institutions" for applicants of the KhDU specialties 014 Secondary Education, specializations 014.03 History and Civic Education and 032 History and Archaeology of the bachelor's and master's levels. At the beginning of the lecture, the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History and Sociology, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor Iryna Vasylivna Shaposhnykova, introducing the lecturer, thanked for the cooperation of the KNUVS. The lecture raised several important issues of involving young people in the study of historical local history and the role of the university in the preservation and spread of the local history movement, aroused great interest among applicants and colleagues. Andriy Zinoviyovych outlined possible areas of cooperation between KhDU and KNUVD. We sincerely thank you for this opportunity and cooperation!

The rector of Kherson State University, Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Spivakovskyi, presented the Gratitude of the Chairman of the Kherson Regional Council to the professor of the Department of History, Archeology and Teaching Methods, Serhiy Grigorovich Vodotytsya, as well as memorable gifts with the symbols of KhSU.
We sincerely congratulate you, Serhiy Grigorovich, on your well-deserved distinction! This award is another confirmation of your high professionalism, tireless work and significant contribution to the development of modern science. Your intellect and diligence are a real example for us. We wish that your scientific field will be generous with new discoveries, and your work will always be appreciated by the state and colleagues.
New heights and creative inspiration to you!

A landmark event was the meeting with fellow historians from the Faculty of History, Political Science and International Relations of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University. The main purpose of the meeting was to present the universities' scientific publications for 2025 and discuss plans for scientific cooperation for the following year.
In the welcoming walls of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, the Kherson historians were met by the Dean of the Faculty, Ihor Hurak, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between historians from different regions.
This time, Natalya Kuzovova, Head of the Department of History, Archaeology and Teaching Methods of the Kherson State University, presented the paper edition of the reference book "Kherson: Liberated Map", which was published in 2025 and presented it as a gift to Carpathian colleagues.
A real discovery was two new books by Tetyana Madryha, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.

Today, within the week of full-time study, certification has begun for applicants for the second (master's) level of higher education in the specialty 014 Secondary education, specialization 014.03 History and civic education. Applicants take a written certification exam in historical disciplines and methods of their teaching. Traditionally, at the beginning of the exam, applicants and the certification commission headed by the candidate of historical sciences, a teacher of the highest category of the professional college of the Kyiv University of Intellectual Property and Law Lyudmila Andriivna Savenok, acting dean of the faculty of psychology, history and sociology Iryna Vasylivna Shaposhnikova and the first vice-rector of Kherson State University Serhiy Arkadiyovych Omelchuk congratulated applicants. Serhiy Arkadiyovych wished applicants success in passing the exam and urged them to continue their studies at KhSU at the third (educational and scientific) level of higher education.

Today, a week of full-time study for teachers and applicants of the Department of History, Archaeology and Teaching Methods began at the Ivano-Frankivsk office of Kherson State University. As part of this event, the head of the department, Natalia Kuzovava, met with colleagues from the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Halyna Voloshchuk, director of the Center for Professional Career and Lifelong Education and professor of the Department of Ukrainian Philology, Faculty of Philology, Oleksandr Soletsky. The colleagues from Ivano-Frankivsk together developed a number of computer and board games for students and applicants, and were happy to share their experience with Natalia Mykolaivna. "This wonderful experience is worth scaling and spreading, and we hope that the trails of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kherson regions will now connect not only in real life, but also in an educational gaming environment! It is important to feel support and be inspired by each other's example, to move forward despite difficulties, to surpass yourself, and to reborn your world again and again in place of ruins!", - noted Natalia Kuzovova.

The final event of the 1st stage of the All-Ukrainian competition-defense of scientific and research works of students - members of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the 2025-2026 academic year was held. It was a scientific conference, at which the contestants were able to present their works and take part in the discussion. The participants demonstrated their skills in discussing problematic issues in the field of archeology, historical local history, the history of Ukraine and world history, the will to win and oratory. We wish you victories in the next stage!

The poster defense of the participants of the 1st stage of the All-Ukrainian competition-defense of scientific and research works of students - members of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the 2025-2026 academic year was held. The members of the jury were scientists of KhSU: Kuzovova Natalya Mykolaivna, Batenko Hanna Vyacheslavivna and Mykhailenko Halyna Mykolaivna. The Kherson city branch of the MAS worked in the sections: archeology, local history, History of Ukraine and world history. We wish the participants further victories!