Members of the Ukrainian community and students in Istanbul discussed ways to strengthen Ukrainian studies at Turkish universities, add Ukrainian to the register of Türkiye’s Ministry of Education and support translations of Ukrainian literature into Turkish. The meeting was attended by Leviza Dzhelyalova, wife of Ukraine’s ambassador to Türkiye, and Halyna Filatova, wife of the consul general in Istanbul, the Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul said on Facebook.
Taking part were the Ukrainian Mutual Aid Society and UKRASA, a student branch that brings together Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar students across Türkiye. Topics included links between Ukrainian studies centres in Ankara and Istanbul and educational initiatives for Ukrainian children.
Festivals in Ankara and Antalya
On 10–11 October, the Ukrainian community, supported by the embassy, presented Ukraine at the 4th World Festival of Cultures in Ankara, with performances by the Flowers of Ukraine and Crimean Family ensembles and by Viktoriia Oztiurk. The embassy thanked Iryna Ambarkiutiukoglu, head of the Ukrainian Union in Ankara, and all participants for promoting Ukrainian culture, according to its Facebook post.
In Antalya, Ukrainian performers, including dance ensembles from Nizhyn and other cities, the Rondo violin ensemble and opera singer Olena Hrebeniuk, opened the 11th International Kaleiçi Old Town Festival as part of the fifth “Ukrainian Festivities in Türkiye” meeting, the Ukrainian Family community organisation said on Facebook. They were welcomed by Ukraine’s Consul General in Antalya, Bohdan Konopliastyi, and Vice-Consul Yuliia Kuchma. After the concert, participants from 20 cities and 15 countries joined a festive procession led by Muratpaşa district mayor Ümit Uysal.
Background
Ukraine’s ambassador to Türkiye, Nariman Dzhelyal, is one of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar people and a former Kremlin political prisoner released in a 2024 exchange. He has served as ambassador in Ankara since July 2025, European Pravda reported.
Qahwa.Media previously reported on the Crimean Tatar “Crimean Night” in Eskişehir.
