“Can Russia Be Expelled From the UN?” — New Student Essay Competition

The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, together with the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, announces a national academic essay competition for students of Ukrainian higher education institutions.

The general topic of the competition is “Ukraine in International Relations.”

The 2026 topic is “Can Russia Be Expelled From the UN?”

This competition is an opportunity not only to present your own vision of one of the most pressing international issues, but also to join an expert discussion with diplomats, lawyers, academics, and experts.

Participation requirements:

— essay length: up to 5 pages (font size 14, line spacing 1.5);

— essays must be submitted in Ukrainian; an optional English-language synopsis of up to 1 page may be included;

— the essay must correspond to the competition topic, be original, and contain a well-argued position with independent conclusions;

— a brief information about the author must be submitted along with the essay (participant questionnaire);

— submissions must be sent by May 1, 2026 to the organizing committee email: orlyk.committee@gmail.com.

The competition takes place in two stages. Based on the results of the first stage, the jury selects the 10 best essays, whose authors advance to the second stage, which will be held in person in Kyiv in June 2026.

To continue participating in the second stage, contestants must attend the meeting in Kyiv in person. Travel expenses are covered by the organizers. Participants are also asked to be prepared to briefly present their essay during the final round.

Competition winners will receive monetary prizes and awards.

Prize amounts:

— 1st prize: UAH 20,000

— 2nd prize: UAH 15,000

— 3rd prize: UAH 10,000

Detailed participation requirements are available in the Competition Regulations.

We invite everyone who wants to try their hand at academic writing, formulate their own well-argued position, and join an important conversation about Ukraine’s place in contemporary international relations.

Essays will be evaluated by a jury comprising prominent diplomats, lawyers, academics, scholars, and experts in the field of international relations.

Jury members:

✓Volodymyr Yelchenko — diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Head of International Policy Research at the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation

✓Ihor Kharchenko — diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, PhD in History, Chief Consultant at the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation

✓Ihor Ostash — diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Rector of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

✓Valerii Kopiika — Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor, Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

✓Volodymyr Manzhola — Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor at the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

✓Viktor Konstantynov — PhD in Political Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

✓Oleh Zaiarnyi — Scientific Advisor at the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor at the Department of Intellectual Property and Information Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

✓Olesia Isaiuk — PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow at the National Museum-Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression “Prison on Lontskogo”