A series of events dedicated to national poetry reading week took place at USUST

On the occasion of International Poetry Day and as part of National Poetry Reading Week, the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies hosted a series of events that brought together students, faculty staff, and everyone who feels connected to the Ukrainian word. Across various university locations, poetry was heard as art, as a way of reflecting on the present, and as a source of inner strength.

 

 

On March 19, 2026, an artistic and literary event – the creative meeting “Poetry of War and Love,” organized by the ‘Yednaimosia!’ concert studio together with the USUST Student Development Department was held at the shelter of SEI ‘PSACEA’.

 

The participants were welcomed by Halyna Yevsieieva, Vice-Rector for Academic, Student and Humanitarian Affairs, who emphasized the role of poetry as a spiritual support for society, especially in today’s circumstances.

 

Special guests of the event were servicemen of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade, whose presence gave even greater depth and sense to the event.

 

The program featured original poetry by young authors – Anastasiia Fitkovska, Halyna Pavlyk, Viktoriia Tatar, Maryna Chernikova, Marharyta Bohatyr, and Dariia Nechepurenko. A special place was given to the works of Valentyna Babenko, which combined personal experience, the realities of war, and faith in the future. Her poetry was presented both by the author herself and by the participants of the event – Anastasiia Demchenko, Taisiia Dobroserdova, and Mariia Kuprash.

 

The poetic atmosphere was enriched by musical performances from Valeriia Tkachova, Bohdan Stativka, and Halyna Pavlyk. Particularly moving were the premieres of songs based on Valentyna Babenko’s lyrics, including the composition ‘Words’, for which the music was written by Valeriia Tkachova. The song ‘I Believe’, written as a personal message to her husband, a defender of Ukraine, was also performed with great sincerity.

 

The event included works by contemporary Ukrainian poets: Oleksii Omelych performed poetry by Artem Popyk, and Kseniia Ivanova read a poem by Dmytro Lazutkin.

 

The memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine was honored with a minute of silence. This moment united everyone present in a shared feeling of gratitude and responsibility toward those who gave their lives for the freedom of the Ukrainian people.

 

The event’s host, Oleksii Omelych, succeeded in turning all the performances into a cohesive emotional composition and created an atmosphere of deep empathy.

 

On March 18 and 20, 2026, as part of the series of historical and patriotic lectures ‘The Resilience of the Ukrainian Nation: history and the present’, online meetings were held that united students and faculty staff from SEI ‘USUCT’, ‘PSAPCS’, ‘DIIT’ and ‘DMI’.

 

The speaker was Larisa Bohuslavska, Candidate of Philological Sciences and Associate Professor. In her lecture, she highlighted the role of the Ukrainian language as the foundation of national identity, a bearer of historical memory, and an important factor in today’s struggle.

 

The participants turned to the works of Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Kotliarevskyi, Maksym Rylskyi, and Lesia Ukrainka, tracing how the Ukrainian word endured bans and persecution while preserving its strength.

 

An emotional addition to the event was a performance by Nataliia Sukhoivan, who recited Anatolii Tarasovskyi’s poem ‘Ukraine’.

 

During the meetings, special attention was given to the contemporary context: language was presented as a tool of unity, resistance, and the affirmation of national dignity. The participants spoke about the responsibility each person bears for preserving and developing the Ukrainian word.

Literary evening ‘Zolotyi Homin’ , (SEI ‘USUCT’)

 

On March 20, 2026, the USUCT art space hosted a literary evening ‘Zolotyi Homin’ , which became another important highlight of the university’s poetry week.

 

The event brought students together in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Poetry was not only listened to, but it was discussed, reflected upon, and experienced together.

 

The host Alina Hordiienko introduced participants to the work of Pavlo Tychyna and also invited them to engage with contemporary poetry, particularly the works of Pavlo Vyshebaba. The most emotional moment of the evening was the reading of original poems by Anastasiia Fitkovska.

 

During the event, the participants also honored Lina Kostenko on the occasion of her 96th birthday and read works by Ivan Franko and Vasyl Symonenko – poetry that remains relevant to this day.

 

The literary evening took place in a friendly atmosphere and once again reminded everyone that poetry supports, unites, and helps people stay strong.

 

 

On March 21, 2026, World Poetry Day, students, faculty staff of USUST took part in the city poetry marathon ‘Resilient Ukraine – 2026: your word has power!’  held at the Dnipro House of Arts.

 

The university was worthily represented by the participants of the poetry and music program, who brought their own sesnce and emotions to the event.

 

Hanna Mykhailova, a second-year student of the SEI ‘PSAPCS’, presented her original poem ‘The Last Letter from Dad…’, filled with personal pain and the memory of loss. Her performance became one of the most emotional moments of the event and resonated deeply with the audience.

 

Nataliia Sukhoivan, head of the Center for Cultural Activities at the SEI ‘PSAPCS’ and lead specialist of the USUST Student Development Department, performed poetry by contemporary authors. Anatolii Tarasovskyi’s poem ‘Ukraine’ was performed with particular sincerity, along with lyrical works by Zoia Makarova.

 

Valentyna Babenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Studies, Documentation, and Information Activities at the SEI “PSACEA’ and head of the USUST Student Development Department, presented a selection of her own poems and songs based on them. Her performance combined different themes and moods, revealing the depth of the author’s reflection on events and the sincerity of her creative voice.

 

The musical part of the program was complemented by Valeriia Tkachova, Associate Professor of the Department of Heat and Gas Supply, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and at the SEI “PSACEA’, who presented compositions based on Valentyna Babenko’s lyrics both in video format and in her own live performance.

These events at USUST demonstrated that poetry lives not only in texts but also in shared experience — meetings, conversations, and creativity. It helps people reflect on events, preserve memory, and find inner support.

 

National poetry reading week at the university became an example of how the power of the word can unite, inspire, and support people even in the most difficult times.