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« 2026. # 4 (190)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 4 (190), 1143—1149

UDK: 94(477):32+929+061.23:06.023.6+008(477)(045)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2026.04.1143

  • Received: 07.07.2026
  • Accepted: 14.07.2026
  • Published: 23.09.2026

THE UNBREAKABLE GENETIC CODE OF UKRAINIANS (BASED ON THE LIFE PATH OF IRENA BACHINSKA-CHABAN)

STELMASHCHUK Halyna

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5607-4936
  • Doctor of Art History, Professor, Academician
  • of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine,
  • Professor of the Department of Design
  • of the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University,
  • 13, Voli Avenue, 43025, Lutsk, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: g_stelm@ukr.net

Abstract. The article is devoted to the activities of Irena Bachynska-Chaban, from the Bachynsky family, coat of arms Sas Drag. Her life and fate as a representative of a noble family under the totalitarian Soviet regime are highlighted. Her struggle for an Independent Ukraine is revealed: initially in Ukraine — Irena was one of the first members of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union and the founder of the UHS branch in Stryi, as well as of other movements organized in Stryi and Lviv. Political prisoners released from camps found shelter in her apartment, in particular the famous politician Vyacheslav Chornovil, whom she helped in publishing the magazine «Ukrainian Herald» and in distributing its materials. Together with other members of the UHS, they helped Vyacheslav Chornovil travel to meetings with the public. Since 1989, she continued her active work in aid of Ukraine from the USA, where Ms. Irena was forced to go for surgery and treatment.

The purpose of the article is to reveal the activities of Irena Bachynska-Chaban, who, with dignity, throughout her life, defended the ideas of her family — the formation of an Independent Soborna Ukraine — affirmed them and helped in every way the formation and development of Independent Ukraine.

The methodological basis of the study is a comprehensive scientific approach, which includes a combination of chronological, biographical, cultural-historical, and source analysis.

Keywords: Stryi, Bachynsky family, Irena Bachynska-Chaban, V. Chornovil, «Ukrainian Herald», political prisoners.

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Our authors
Yaroslav Taras. Head of Department, Professor, Doctor... read »
Oksana Kis. Senior scientific employee, candidate of... read »
Olena Nykorak. Senior Researcher, Doctor of Arts read »
Yatsiv Roman. Scientific interests: art history,... read »
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