Karazin University Inspires: Mykola Mikhnovsky's Proclamation of an Independent Ukraine

Yesterday, July 15, Ukraine marked the Day of Ukrainian Statehood — a fitting occasion to recall that it was here, within the walls of Karazin University, that over a century ago the young lawyer and publicist Mykola Mikhnovsky proclaimed the idea of an independent Ukraine as a political demand.

This was highlighted during a segment on the “We Are Ukraine” national marathon broadcast by journalist Iryna Antonyuk, who fondly remembered her student years at her Alma Mater.

Just as Kharkiv in 2025 is a key stronghold in the fight for freedom, in 1900 it was a center for ideological struggle. Mikhnovsky’s statement was a bold challenge to the empire and marked the beginning of a new phase in the quest for Ukrainian statehood. The Ukrainian intelligentsia united around the vision of a free, united, and strong Ukraine — a slogan that became the foundation and driving force of the national liberation movement in the 20th century. It is important to note that this was a movement for full independence, not merely for autonomy.

Mykola Mikhnovsky played a crucial role in the formation of Ukrainian statehood. His work "Independent Ukraine" and "Ten Commandments of the Ukrainian People's Party" laid the groundwork for the development of national consciousness and the political program of Ukrainian nationalism. His program had a defensive character and was aimed at liberating the Ukrainian people from foreign domination and preserving cultural identity.

Despite severe infrastructure damage sustained during the full-scale invasion, Karazin University continues to be a center of thought and scholarship dedicated to Ukrainian state-building. It has nurtured — and continues to nurture — outstanding figures in Ukraine’s history, culture, and civic-political life. We are confident that the university will go on inspiring future generations of Ukrainians to build a strong, independent national state.