JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CHATNEWSTV) — Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska announced Thursday the establishment of a Center for Global Ukrainian Studies in South Africa, as part of a broader effort to expand international academic collaboration. Her visit was cut short due to overnight Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian territory.
The announcement came during a signing ceremony at the University of Pretoria, where Zelenska and University Principal Professor Francis Petersen inked the first memorandum of cooperation between the two countries on academic exchange and cultural studies.
“Ukrainian studies are not just about Ukraine,” Zelenska said at the event. “They’re about universal themes and values that resonate with the experience of many nations: liberation movements, a history of subjugation, the fight for dignity, and the right to be yourself.”
Zelenska highlighted the shared struggles between Ukraine and South Africa, praising the country’s history of transformation and pursuit of equality.
“South Africa knows what it means to fight for freedom,” she said. “And Ukraine today is democracy at war – defending its independence, its people, and its right to exist.”
The initiative is part of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, backed by multiple Ukrainian institutions including the Ukrainian Institute, the President’s Fund for Education, Science and Sports, and the Crimea Platform Office. The coalition aims to promote research on Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar history, languages, and cultures.
The new center in South Africa will serve as a hub for academic dialogue and cultural exchange between African and Ukrainian scholars, supporting the development of Ukrainian studies on the continent.
Zelenska’s delegation returned to Kyiv earlier than scheduled due to the Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities overnight, which Ukrainian officials said targeted civilian infrastructure.
Despite the abbreviated visit, the First Lady said the groundwork had been laid for long-term cooperation.
“This center is a symbol of unity,” she said. “And a testament that even in times of war, we choose connection over isolation and knowledge over ignorance.”
