CULTURAL DIPLOMACY OF UKRAINE IN WARTIME AS A TOOL FOR MOBILIZING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the main institutional mechanisms, forms, and practices of the cultural representation of the Ukrainian experience of war in the global public space, and to determine the roles of state and non-state actors in the implementation of cultural diplomacy initiatives.
The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific and specialized methods. In particular, the methods of analysis and synthesis were used to generalize regulatory documents and scholarly approaches to understanding cultural diplomacy; the historical-comparative method was applied to compare the practices of Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy before and during the full-scale war; institutional analysis was used to examine the activities of state bodies and cultural institutions; and content analysis was applied to cultural and media projects aimed at international audiences. 
The results of the study demonstrate that under wartime conditions, Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy performs a set of interconnected functions: communicative, representational, mobilizing, and value-integrative. It has been determined that a key role in implementing the cultural diplomacy policy is played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, diplomatic missions, and state cultural institutions, which coordinate international cultural projects and ensure the representation of Ukrainian culture abroad. The study also shows that the activities of non-governmental organizations, professional communities, and volunteer initiatives constitute an important complement to state policy, actively participating in the implementation of cultural and informational projects at the international level. The article substantiates that cultural diplomacy contributes to integrating the Ukrainian wartime experience into global cultural discourse, fosters international solidarity with Ukraine, and strengthens its position as an independent subject within the European cultural space.