Digital platforms of Ukraine’s heritage diplomacy in times of war

This Special Issue examines Ukraine’s digital diplomacy focused on communicating Ukraine’s heritage and national identity. In Ukraine, political and diplomatic discourse increasingly focuses on the country’s historical and cultural heritage. Official statements and reports by Ukrainian authorities support this focus in Ukraine’s strategic communication with the world, especially during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia when the country’s national identity is under attack. Ukraine’s heritage is also of importance to the EU’s strategic communication of the EU-Ukraine heritage diplomacy initiatives reaching EU citizens, as well as Ukrainian and global audiences. In this context, contributions to this Special Issue investigate digital communication of Embassies of Ukraine about Ukraine’s heritage and national identity, as well as the EU. Digital heritage diplomacy is observed across Embassies of Ukraine in the key countries of the ‘Global North’ (the US, the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, and Hungary) and ‘Global South’ (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa). Each contribution provides recommendations for strategic communicators and digital heritage diplomacy practitioners.