The Global Crimea Conference 2024, held at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, concluded on Friday with participants emphatically rejecting Russia’s claims to the Soviet Union’s achievements.

The gathering brought together experts, policymakers, and human rights defenders from around the world to discuss pressing global issues, with a particular focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the implications of Russian aggression.

A highlight of the conference was the closing session, “Soviet Heritage in Non-Western Countries: Should Ukraine Claim Its Ownership?” Experts, including former Ukrainian diplomats and international academics, criticised Moscow’s ongoing attempts to appropriate the USSR’s legacy as part of its geopolitical strategy.

Dr. Olexiy Haran, a professor of comparative politics, argued that the Soviet Union was a collective project of its constituent republics, stating, “The Soviet Union was not a monolithic Russian entity. Countries like Ukraine made significant contributions to its achievements, and Russia cannot monopolize that legacy.”

Ambassador Yevhen Mykytenko, a veteran diplomat and adviser to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, highlighted how Russian propaganda weaponizes Soviet history to justify territorial expansion and political domination.

“Russia uses its selective narrative of the USSR’s successes to bolster its claims in Ukraine, Crimea, and beyond,” he noted.

The conference featured a diverse range of sessions and parallel events addressing global challenges, including the rights of indigenous peoples, the environmental impact of war, and Russian disinformation campaigns.

Key sessions included:
• Challenges for Indigenous Peoples Worldwide: Can We Build Solidarity? Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Medjlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and other panellists underscored the importance of international cooperation to protect Indigenous rights amid increasing authoritarianism.
• Russian Propaganda Narratives in Different Parts of the World, where speakers from Ghana, Guinea, India, and Brazil shared insights into how disinformation distorts perceptions of Ukraine globally.
• Environmental Impact of the Russian Aggression: From 2014 to 2024, which detailed the lasting ecological damage caused by Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

In a special address, Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Vice Speaker of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, called for global solidarity to ensure peace and stability, particularly among non-Western countries.

“Ukraine’s future depends on international partnerships that transcend traditional alliances,” he stated.

The conference’s global perspective was evident in its participants, with notable speakers including Mohammed Hassan from Sudan’s Darfur Network for Human Rights, Hannia Novell from Mexico’s TV Azteca, and Dr. Fernanda Magnotta from Brazil’s FAAP.

The event served as a powerful platform to reaffirm Ukraine’s rightful place in the global community while challenging narratives that seek to undermine its sovereignty.

As the conference concluded, the message was clear: Ukraine, along with other former Soviet republics, has every right to assert its historical contributions and chart its independent future free from Russian influence.