Originally, the ministry was established as the General Secretariat of Nationalities as part of theGeneral Secretariat of Ukraine and was headed by the federalistSerhiy Yefremov. Due to the Soviet intervention, the office was reformed into a ministry on December 22, 1917. About the same time, another government was formed (the Soviet) that proclaimed the Ukrainian government to be counter-revolutionary. The Ukrainian Soviet government also reorganized its office on March 1, 1918. In 1923, the office was liquidated by the government of the Soviet Union and reinstated in 1944, twenty years later. The first Soviet representatives were not of much note until the appointment of the Bulgarian nativeChristian Rakovsky in 1919. The office would remain in operation even after Ukraine's restoration of independence in 1991.
On March 28, 2022, during theRusso-Ukrainian war (2022–present), the ministry in a collaboration withOne Philosophy launched the "Ukraine Street" campaign, calling for citizens of initially 34 countries in 53 cities to sign petitions ofrenaming their streets next to Russian embassies. It is a part of an attempt to "isolate Russia and de-Putinize the world", and to express solidarity with Ukraine.[4][5] Streets in 20 cities of 17 countries have been renamed by its authorities during the campaign as of December 2022.[4]
The ministry is located in Ukraine's capitalKyiv in the city's historicuppertown district, located in close proximity to the recently rebuiltSt. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. The building of the ministry is also located on the Mykhailivska Square, named for the monastery and next to the parkVolodymyrska Hill.
Ukraine has been a member of UNESCO since May 12, 1954.[7] From December 1962 Ukraine had established its permanent representation in the organization currently served by the Ambassador of Ukraine to France. The National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO was created as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Presidential decree #212/1996 on March 26, 1996. The Chair of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO isSergiy Kyslytsya.[8]
The permanent representative of Ukraine to UNESCO is the Ambassador to FranceKostiantyn Tymoshenko.[9]
Ukraine has 14 academic departments cooperating withUNESCO[10] as well as 63 schools associated with the organization.[11]
