Reaction to the Russian attack on Ukraine
Solidarity with Ukraine

The Goethe-Institut reacts with great dismay to the Russian attack on Ukraine. Secretary General Johannes Ebert said: "We are shocked by the current situation in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with our colleagues and partners in the country and with their families. While economic sanctions against Russia are now essential, we believe that civil society exchange is more important than ever."
 

Johannes Ebert continues: "We are in constant contact with our Ukrainian colleagues, all of whom are well under the circumstances. They are receiving intensive support from us so that they can look after themselves and their families. The Goethe-Institut Kyiv is continuing to work online as far as the security situation allows."

In Ukraine, the Goethe-Institut is represented by a large institute in Kyiv, from which it manages a large network of three cultural societies, 15 language learning centers, 17 partner libraries or reading rooms, and many university collaborations. It reaches about 4,000 language students per year. The Goethe-Institut has been active in Ukraine since 1993. A total of 115 colleagues work at the Goethe-Institut Kyiv, including the staff of the multi-year European project "House of Europe". All staff members sent from Germany had already left the country on the instructions of the German Foreign Office. According to official data from the Ministry of Education, 670,000 people in Ukraine are learning German. German is taught at well over 5,000 schools. The majority of these schools take advantage of offers from the Goethe-Institut. 17 schools receive special support from the Goethe-Institut as part of the PASCH initiative. The Goethe-Institut works closely with the Ukrainian art and culture scene and networks it with Germany.

Goethe-Institut Ukraine