Open Forum: Eastern Ukraine, Present and Future

The conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the local population and Europe will be explored at a University of Western Sydney Open Forum.

Dr Dmytro Khutkyy is a member of the Development of International Research group at the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, and will present Eastern Ukraine: Present and Future on May 5 at the UWS Parramatta campus.

The conflict between government troops and pro-Russian rebels has killed more than 6,000 people in the past year and displaced more than 1 million, according to the United Nations.

The Former Human Rights Commissioner and Director of Equity and Diversity Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM will act as MC for the evening.

"The conflict in Ukraine is the biggest challenge to peace in Europe since World War 2," says Dr Ozdowski.

"It's important it's resolved as soon as possible, in a way that ensures the integrity of Ukrainian territory."

Dr Khutkyy is a member of the Development of International Research group at the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, Ukraine, and is currently studying global trends at the University of California-Riverside, USA, as a Fulbright Visiting Researcher.

During the dramatic events in Ukraine, Dr Dmytro Khutkyy has studied sociological aspects of the protests and social relations, with primary focus on the opinions of populations in Ukraine and Russia.

Ends

April 29 2015

Mark Smith, Senior Media Officer