Vanda Mikhalevska (1906–1986). The First Woman Among the Heads of Foreign Representations in Kyiv

The aim of the article is to examine, on the basis of archival documents and the memoirs of Wanda Michalewska (1906–1986), the activities of the first woman to head a foreign diplomatic mission in Kyiv. The methodological framework of the study is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity. The biographical and historical-biographical methods are employed to reconstruct Wanda Michalewska’s life and professional trajectory, while the method of historical reconstruction is used to elucidate the specific features of her diplomatic activities. The scholarly novelty of the study lies in reconstructing Wanda Michalewska’s life and professional career and examining her diplomatic activities in Kyiv in 1957–1965. The article clarifies certain biographical details about Mikhalievska, traces the development of her diplomatic career, and determines her place in the history of women’s participation in Polish diplomacy. It is demonstrated that Michalewska entered diplomacy from party work and began her diplomatic career in Moscow, where adherence to the party line was one of the essential requirements of the profession. Her political views remained unchanged throughout her career. Michalewska regarded the ideological component as a priority in her professional activities, while at the same time paying attention to Ukrainian-Polish cultural cooperation. The study identifies the forms and mechanisms through which she implemented cultural diplomacy under the ideological constraints of the Soviet system, as well as the new areas of cooperation she initiated. These included establishing sister-city relations, meetings with representatives of the press, promoting prominent figures of Polish culture, organizing exhibitions of works by Polish artists in Kyiv, meetings with Polish writers, Polish film festivals and other cultural events, as well as contacts between friendship societies. Michalewska served two consecutive terms in Kyiv and completed her mission on 18 March 1965. In 1981, she published her memoirs, in which she recounted her work in Kyiv with great respect and appreciation.