This issue of Porohy is dedicated to Transcarpathia — a region where Ukrainian identity was shaped under conditions of constant pressure, competition among names, languages, and political projects. We turn to a land that for centuries stood at the crossroads of empires, yet preserved its cultural memory and its aspiration for self-determination. The poetic name “Silver Land” originates from the book of the same title by Vasyl Pachovskyi, who conceived of Transcarpathia as part of an integral Ukrainian world, enveloped in myth, history, and struggle. This name resonates with the legend of a silver bell bearing an inscription dated 1036 — a gift from a Rus’ prince to the local community as a sign of belonging to the Kyivan tradition. According to legend, the bell was destroyed by the Hungarians, and the act of its destruction became a symbol of attempts to erase the memory of the Rus’, and later Ukrainian, roots of the region.
In this issue, we analyze the conflict of identities in an article examining Rusynism as a political instrument used to counter the Ukrainian nation-building process. Special attention is given to the figure of Augustyn Voloshyn — the first president of Carpathian Ukraine, whose activity marked the culmination of decades-long efforts toward state subjectivity. We also publish a continuation of the conversation with historian Nataliia Starchenko on the mechanisms of nation formation, the role of elites, and the responsibility of memory.
This issue represents an attempt to restore Transcarpathia’s historical depth and to inscribe the “Silver Land” into the Ukrainian narrative without reservations or compromises.
Signed for printing:Published 12 times a year. Press releases from embassies, news agencies and illustrations from open sources are used.
The author of the article is responsible for the accuracy of the facts presented. The editorial board has the right to shorten the materials and not share the views of the author. The magazine is published with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Publisher: “Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic”, NGO Perekotipoly Vocelova 3, Prague 2, ID number: 60448296;
