Making Sense of the Unthinkable: Four Years After the Full-Scale Invasion.
Roundtable discussions to commemorate four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
The event is organized on Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 10.00-13.30. The event features two roundtable discussions on security considerations, and Ukrainian culture and literature. The event takes place in Kaisa hall 7062 in the University of Helsinki Main Library (Fabianinkatu 30, 7th floor) and online.
Four years ago, a full-scale war in Europe was unthinkable to most observers, politicians, and academics, until Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border. Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including indiscriminate violence, the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, as well as the resistance offered by everyday Ukrainians, have challenged existing conceptions of possibility, normality, and inevitability in ways observers are still struggling to comprehend. The expansion of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine into a full-scale invasion has meant that what once seemed impossible has become an everyday reality; what once felt stable has proven to be fragile.
These roundtables bring together scholars and practitioners from security, cultural studies and literature to reflect on these shifts, particularly how these fields have made sense of them, raising the question of how states and societies process profound disruptions through policy, strategy, art, and storytelling.
The event is open to researchers, students, practitioners, and those working or interested in Ukrainian and European studies. This event is free, limited seats available for in-person participation. Pre-registration required by 20 February. Link to registration form below.
The event is organized by the Ukrainian Studies Research Community.
Roundtable discussions with a chair and experts are followed by open discussion, during which the audience members can comment and pose questions to the invited experts.
10.00-10.15:
Opening address from the coordinators of the Ukrainian Studies Research Community
Opening address from a representative of the Embassy of Ukraine
10.15-11.15:
Roundtable discussion I: Security considerations
Chair: Amelie Tolvin, University of Helsinki and University of Toronto
Participants:
Prof. Katri Pynnöniemi, University of Helsinki and National Defense University of Finland
Dr. Yuliia Kurnyshova, University of Helsinki
Lt. Col. Simo Pesu, Head of the Russia Research Group, National Defense University of Finland
Dr. Ivan Gomza, Kyiv School of Economics
11.15-12.15:
Lunch break (self service)
12.15-13.15:
Roundtable discussion II: Ukrainian literature and culture
Chair: Dr. Daria Kondakova, University of Helsinki
Participants:
Dr. Tetyana Kalytenko, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
Eero Balk, Finnish translator of Ukrainian literature and 2024 winner of the Drahomán Prize
Viktoriia Grivina, University of St. Andrews
Closing of the event by 13.30.