Fourth study visit of Polish opinion leaders to Kyiv
From 2 to 8 November 2025, a group of Polish opinion leaders took part in a study visit to Kyiv, organized by the Mieroszewski Centre and the Ukrainian Institute.
The goal of the visit was to deepen understanding of contemporary Ukraine, explore the challenges it faces during wartime, and strengthen Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the fields of media, culture, and civil society.
The program included meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian government, institutions of memory, non-governmental organisations, and media circles. Participants visited, among others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, the Center for Civil Liberties, and the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The agenda also featured visits to Borodianka, Irpin, and Bucha – places that have become symbols of Russian war crimes – as well as a round-table discussion on Polish-Ukrainian media cooperation in combating disinformation.
For the participants, it was an opportunity not only to learn facts but also to understand the emotions and daily realities that shape Ukrainian society today. As Kuba Bodziony noted, “If I ever again hear Poles saying there’s no war in Ukraine, I’ll be able to show them the videos, photos, and daily air-raid alerts from Kyiv and Kharkiv. If anyone in Poland truly knew what was happening here, they would never say such things.”
For Marek Kozubal of Rzeczpospolita, the most valuable aspect was the human connection: “This visit is very important because it’s my first time in Kyiv. The Mieroszewski Centre and the Ukrainian Institute gave me the chance to meet people and see Ukraine from a completely different perspective — a country striving to function normally in a time of war.”
Wojciech Huk, reporter and documentarian, emphasized the value of direct testimony: “The greatest value of this visit is that we were able to talk to people who have experienced war, who took part in it, and whose lives were directly affected by it.”
According to Wojciech Siegien, the visit also strengthened professional ties and exchange of perspectives: “We need to update our knowledge about what’s happening in Ukraine and build networks — both with our Ukrainian partners and within the Polish journalistic community. The program was so packed that it made our heads spin, but it gave us the chance to meet people from many different backgrounds.”
Justyna Nowicka, journalist from Radio Kraków, highlighted the emotional and moral dimension of the experience: “Everything I knew theoretically, everything I had read about — I have now truly felt. I have no doubt that the war started by Russia is total in nature and will not stop on its own. Only the collective effort of the entire world can bring it to an end. This visit is a commitment to carry this testimony forward — and culture is one of the ways to do so.”
The visit demonstrated that direct contact, dialogue, and shared experience are irreplaceable in building understanding between Poland and Ukraine. It also provided space for reflection on how Polish media can support their Ukrainian counterparts in defending truth, freedom, and memory.