Ukraine FM Reveals Historic Records of Century-Old Ukraine-Syria Diplomatic Relations

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has revealed archival documents demonstrating that the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) established an honorary consulate in Damascus 100 years ago.

The consulate, established in 1923 during the UNR government-in-exile, was headed by Oleksii Boholiubsky, a Kyiv-born Orthodox Christian and former educator. Boholiubsky, appointed on May 8, 1923, served as honorary consul for Damascus and Syria, then under French mandate.

Minister Sybiha shared the findings after a recent diplomatic visit to Syria, during which the Ukrainian flag was raised at the honorary consulate in Damascus. The documents, he noted, highlight the enduring continuity of Ukraine’s statehood and diplomacy, which trace back to the Kyivan Rus, the Cossack era, and the UNR.

While operating in exile, the UNR government utilized these consulates to maintain connections with its citizens abroad and to advocate for Ukrainian sovereignty on the international stage.

Minister Sybiha remarked that these findings are a testament to Ukraine’s enduring diplomatic presence, even in distant regions like Syria. He emphasized that Ukraine’s statehood did not emerge spontaneously in 1991 but is rooted in a long and continuous history of nation-building and international engagement.