The Ukraine Culture Network UCN and Kornhaus Bibliotheken Bern (Kornhaus libraries, KOB) jointly organized a series of events to raise awareness of the ongoing war against Ukrainian libraries and Ukrainian literature. This war is part of the war the Russian Federation wages against Ukrainian culture and identity.
The events took place at the main building of Kornhausbibliotheken at Kornhausplatz 18 in Bern on December 2nd and 3rd, 2025.
Swiss National TV SRF has produced a TV report on the events.
Program
Day 1 - Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025
19.30 Panel discussion (in English)
The panel focused on the situation of Ukrainian libraries, the targeting of Ukrainian culture by the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s resilience and the support needed.
Panelists included Kateryna Yehorushkina, writer and representative of PEN Ukraine; Viktoriia Polova, administrative coordinator, Ukrainian Library Association; Thord Eriksson, Editor-in-chief, Biblioteksbladet; Lars Ilshammar, historian and former deputy head of the Swedish National Library.
20.30 Vernissage of an exhibition of photographer Åke Ericson. Ericson recently traveled to Ukraine to document the situation of libraries. You can find a selection of his photos under this link.
Day 2 - Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
9.30 half-day Conference on the war against Ukrainian libraries and literature (in English)
The Conference focused on the situation and needs of Ukrainian libraries, writers and journalists, also in temporarily occupied territories, on printed cultural heritage and its protection.
Speakers included Ambassador Jacques Gerber, Delegate of the Swiss Government for Ukraine; Viktoriia Polova, administrative coordinator, Ukrainian Library Association; Andrej Kurkow / Andrey Kurkov, writer; Kateryna Yehorushkina, writer, representative of PEN Ukraine; Thord Eriksson, Editor-in-chief, Biblioteksbladet; Felix Hüppi, director of Pestalozzi-Bibliothek Zürich and Board Member of the Swiss Library Association Bibliosuisse; Demian Cornu, president, PEN Switzerland, German speaking section. Moderators were Monika Schoenenberger, anchor and producer, Swiss National TV (SRF); Thord Eriksson, Editor-in-chief, Biblioteksbladet, and Dani Landolf, Director, Kornhaus Bibliotheken.
17.00 Lesung und öffentliche Diskussion mit Andrej Kurkow (in deutscher Sprache)
19.30 Premiere of documentary „Songs of Slow Burning Earth”, directed by Olha Zhurba
The film is a co-production of Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark and France; it was screened, in presence of the Ambassadors of Ukraine and Sweden, at cinema Cinématte, Wasserwerkgasse 7, 3011 Bern
Full program
The full program can be downloaded here.
The events enjoyed the support of the Embassies of Ukraine and Sweden in Switzerland. UCN and KOB are thankful for the close cooperation with the Swedish Library Association on these events. They gratefully acknowledge support by the Landis & Gyr Foundation.
The events were organized by a core team with Dani Landolf, Director, Kornhaus Bibliotheken; Thord Eriksson, Editor-in-chief, Biblioteksbladet; Maria Söderberg and Christian Schoenenberger, Board Members of the Ukraine Culture Network.
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photo credits: Åke Ericson
