On April 15, the National University of Ostroh Academy held Ukraine's first presentation of Yurii Poliukhovych's monograph 'Monumentos escultóricos de Palenque', dedicated to the study of the sculptural monuments of ancient Palenque, the city of the Maya civilisation.
The President of the National University of Ostroh Academy, Ihor Pasichnyk, introduced the guest to the academic community and moderated the communication between Yuriy Poliukhovych and students from the specialities "International Relations," "History and Archaeology," "Philology," and "Cultural Studies."
«Hosting a prominent scientist like Yurii Poliukhovych is highly symbolic for Ostroh Academy, a centre of intellectual courage for centuries. Today, we are witnessing a remarkable event — the presentation of a work that brings together Ukrainian scientific thought and the world's cultural heritage. I am confident that this meeting will serve as a significant inspiration for our students, who will become future diplomats, philologists, historians, and culturologists. We are genuinely pleased to welcome you to Ostroh Academy. We are grateful for the opportunity to share your experience, knowledge, and scientific achievements.»
The honorary guests of the event were the Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Koval, and the Head of the Rivne Raion State Administration, Yurii Kolos.
The publication "Monumentos escultóricos de Palenque" has gained international recognition: it received the CANIEM 2025 Award from the National Chamber of the Book Industry of Mexico, in the category of scientific, technical, and illustrated printed publications.
«I am very happy to be with you today and share these developments at Ostroh Academy. Thank you for inviting me to Ostroh and for this wonderful initiative. Each of us has a role to play and must perform our jobs professionally; it is this synergy that leads to real results. I am truly proud of my team. There is a simple truth: what you nurture today will become your support in the future. Therefore, I encourage you to continue developing, learn new languages, and unite for a common cause.»
Yuriy Poliukhovych is the Ambassador of Ukraine to Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, a well-known Ukrainian Mayanist scholar, historian and public and political figure. He represents Ukraine in the European Association of Maya Culture Researchers and is one of the few specialists fluent in classical Cholti, the language of the Mayan hieroglyphic script. That is why his scientific studies are of exceptional value not only to the Ukrainian humanities but also to the international academic community. The study of the sculptural monuments of Palenque opens new opportunities for understanding the history, symbolic thought, artistic practices, and written tradition of one of the most mysterious civilisations of pre-Columbian America.
At the end of the meeting, everyone had the opportunity to ask the speaker questions and receive comprehensive answers.
The meeting was a good opportunity for students to learn more about modern research on the Mayan civilisation, the peculiarities of working with historical sources, and the prospects for a scientific and diplomatic career in the international environment.
