The year 2026 in the Kherson region will become the Year of Dniprova Chaika. This decision was made to honor the memory of the outstanding Ukrainian writer and public figure Lyudmyla Oleksiivna Vasylevska-Berezina, a native of the Kherson region.
The relevant order was signed by the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.
According to the document, the decision was made to recognize her significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian literature, children’s literature, the theatrical culture and spiritual life of the Kherson region, as well as to popularize her creative heritage.
It is also noted that in 2026 the 165th anniversary of her birth will be celebrated.
Throughout the year, a number of cultural and educational events dedicated to the writer will be held in the Kherson region. These include: thematic conferences, literary and local history readings, lesson-meetings, round-table sessions, seminars and exhibitions dedicated to the works of Dniprova Chaika. Educational institutions will hold a kickoff event “Under the Wing of the Word. Year of Dniprova Chaika”.
There will also be an online event “I Believe in Beauty… The Crossroads of the Fates of Lesya Ukrainka and Dniprova Chaika”. A literary hour “Dniprova Chaika. Comic fairy-tale-operas…” will be held at the children’s club “ArtPanayko” and a musical-literary biblio-retrospective “Connections of Dniprova Chaika’s Creative Legacy with Ukrainian Musical Culture”.
They plan to organize a mixed reading marathon “The Word That Flies Over the Dnipro”, a regional illustration contest to Dniprova Chaika’s works “In Drawings the Tale Comes to Life” and a concluding event “Year of Creative Flight”.
There will also be a quest “Through the Pages of Known/Unknown Works”, video programs “A Life Devoted to Literature” and a series of celebratory evening meetings “Dniprova Chaika. The Free Bird”.
They will prepare a retro lounge “The Story of One Pseudonym”, a methodological workshop “Popularizing Dniprova Chaika’s Works in School Libraries” and an event “On the Wings of Love for the Homeland. A Creative Portrait” for the writer’s birthday.