Russian aggression against Ukraine and the security implications for Indo-Pacific region

The NZIIA Wellington Branch is delighted to invite you to an evening with the Ukraine Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand on Thursday 30 January 2025.

In this lecture, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko will delve into the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, examining its profound impact on global security dynamics. The Ambassador will provide a detailed analysis of the origins and developments of the conflict, highlighting the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the international community's response. He will also explore the broader security implications for the Indo-Pacific region, including New Zealand, emphasizing the importance of a rules-based international order and the role of regional powers in maintaining stability. This event will offer valuable perspectives on the interconnectedness of global security issues and the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine for New Zealand and other Pacific nations.

Emeritus Professor Roberto Rabel will chair the event and provide concluding remarks. Following the speech from the Ambassador there will be an opportunity for Q&A from the audience.

Event details

Speaker: His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia and New Zealand based in Canberra.

Date/Time: Thursday 30 January 5:30-7:00pm

Venue: Rutherford House, RHLT1, Pipitea Campus, 33 Bunny Street

Doors Open: 5:10pm. 

Terms and Conditions

-Registrations are required to attend this event. No walk ups allowed. Non members can attend by paying the registration fee.

-Registrations will be checked against the NZIIA 2025 Membership database . Should you have an invalid registration NZIIA Wellington reserves the right to cancel your registration. 

-Should you have renewed your NZIIA Wellington 2025 membership please do so prior to registering for this event.

-One ticket per person. Each ticket must contain your full first and surname, email address and phone number that matches your ID. 

-All student members must register with their VUW or Massey student email for a valid registration.

-By registering, you understand that, for reasons of security, you may be asked to provide ID that matches your ticket details. You also agree that, if asked, you will participate in a bag check, failing which entry to the venue could be denied. Security will be present at this event.

-If, after registering, you are unable to attend the event please have the courtesy to cancel your ticket to ensure other people are able to attend. A waitlist will operate.

-In keeping with NZIIA practice, unauthorised recording of this event (either audio or video) is not permitted. Members and guest are reminded to adhere to the NZIIA Code of Conduct.

Biography

His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Australia and New Zealand

Vasyl Myroshnychenko started his functions as an Ambassador of Ukraine toAustralia on April 1, 2022.
On March 7 th , 2022 Minister of Defence of Ukraine appointed him as his advisor.

In May of 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Institute, a cultural diplomacy outfit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was an active business and civil society leader in Ukraine.
From 2006 to 2022, he was a Partner at CFC Big Ideas, a Kyiv-based strategic communications company. He has 20 years of experience advising clients on corporate communications, public affairs and reputation management. Vasyl advised many multinational companies and domestic industry leaders across various sectors.

Vasyl is a co-founder of  Ukraine Crisis Media Center , a media NGO set up in early March of 2014 aimed at amplifying Ukraine’s voice internationally. He was in charge of numerous projects and campaigns during 2014-2019. In 2015-2016, he was a Head of Board of Professional Government Association, an NGO which has united Ukrainian alumni of the Western Universities with a goal of mobilizing talent for the economic, legal and judicial reforms in Ukraine. He sat on the board of the  Ukrainian-British City Club, a London-based organisation promoting UK-Ukraine trade and investment relations between 2007-2022. 

In 2018, Vasyl was a  Marshall Memorial Fellow , a prestigious leadership program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. In 2002-2004, Vasyl was a President of the European Youth Parliament-Ukraine, an international youth NGO.

He was a Chevening Scholar and earned MSc in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2006, UK). He also holds MA and BA degrees in international relations from Institute of International
Relations, Kyiv National Shevchenko University (2002, 2003).

Vasyl is a graduate of the Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry program at Iacocca Institute, Lehigh University (2002, USA) and Swedish Institute Management Program (Sweden, 2009) and a two-week intensive course on public affairs and advocacy from the Center of Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, DC (USA, 2014).

Vasyl has two children and is married to Liana Myroshnychenko.