The Institute of Lithuanian Scientific Society, in cooperation with Ukrainian scholars working in Lithuania, seeks to commemorate the Battle of Vorskla, which took place on August 12, 1399. This sociocultural project is especially relevant today, reminding us of the historical roots of cooperation between the Lithuanian and Ukrainian nations. Although the Christian alliance, composed of Lithuanian, German, Polish, Ruthenian, and Moldavian forces under the leadership of Grand Duke Vytautas, suffered a painful defeat, this battle should not only be remembered but also reconsidered in the broader context of civilizational development.
Grand Duke Vytautas commemorated the Battle of Vorskla by founding a church in Kaunas.
We organized several informational events to raise awareness of the Poltava City Council’s decision to commemorate the Battle of Vorskla at the site of the Poltava Battle Museum in Ukraine. You are welcome to explore them:
- Project presentation event — Youtube recording
- Public lecture by Professor Valdas Rakutis: “The Battle of Vorskla (1399) and Kaunas” (January 12, 2025) — Youtube recording
Historical sources confirm that, despite having a military-technological advantage, the Christian coalition could not overcome the Golden Horde’s forces, which outnumbered them threefold. The battle claimed many lives. Historical memory and respect for those who perished are of immeasurable value to the identity and future perspective of the nations of this region.
The Battle of Vorskla took place on the frontier of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in what is now Ukrainian territory, near the Vorskla River. It was a dramatic clash between Christian and Tatar nomadic civilizations, manifested in military conflict. The exact location of the battle remains unknown, as no remains or burial sites of soldiers have been discovered. Historians must rely on the chronicle of Swedish historian Gustaf Adlerfelt, who recorded that the 1709 Battle of Poltava occurred on the same field as Vytautas the Great’s Battle of Vorskla.
625 years later, the Poltava City Council, following an initiative by Dr. Ganna Nevoit and supported by the local community, resolved to commemorate the Battle of Vorskla. The council approved both the monument’s design and its location within the protected grounds of the Poltava Battle Museum, which is believed to be the site of the battlefield. The museum administration agreed to take over the completed monument into its care and maintenance.
Remembering lost battles and those who died is just as critical as celebrating victories. Regardless of the outcome, battles give us insight into the political and military history of their time. From the perspective of historical memory, they allow us to discover and highlight the continuity of values and ideas. We now have an excellent opportunity to honor the historical cooperation between the Lithuanian and Ukrainian nations, which will undoubtedly remain significant for their future destinies.
Therefore, we invite everyone who can contribute to the necessary funding for the monument’s installation. The Institute of Scientific Society (short Lithuanian MSI) takes responsibility for collecting donations in Lithuania. It will cooperate with the Ukrainian Scholars Section of the Lithuanian Scientific Society and Dr. Ganna Nevoit to implement the project and formally hand over the monument to the Poltava Battle Museum.
You can donate with a single click of the “Donate” button at the beginning of this appeal.
Please note that you can allocate a portion of the donation as a tip to the WhyDonate platform developers during payment. If you wish your donation goes to the Vorskla project, set the “Tips” slider to 0%.
On behalf of the MSI and Ukrainian scholars working in Lithuania, we also address companies and entrepreneurs regarding opportunities to collaborate in commemorating the Battle of Vorskla at the Poltava Battle Museum. This may also become the beginning of broader cooperation with Ukrainian researchers, both in Lithuania and beyond.
We are always ready to meet and discuss collaboration opportunities.
If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact MSI Director Prof. Dr. Habil. Vygintas Gontis at vygintas@gontis.eu or tel. +370 698 12384,
or Poltava Council Member Dr. Ganna Nevoit at anevoiyt@gmail.com to receive more details directly from the project’s initiators.