On 20 September 2026, the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "The Field of the Battle of Poltava" took part in the Swedish Partnership Fair, which was held as part of the "Sweden on Tour" programme.
The event brought together representatives of government and local authorities, international organisations, charitable foundations, the business sector, and cultural and social institutions. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the activities of Sweden’s partners in Ukraine and discuss prospects for further cooperation.
The centrepiece of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "The Field of the Battle of Poltava" was a new banner and exhibition project entitled "Poltava – Sweden: At the Crossroads of History".
The exhibition explores Ukrainian-Swedish contacts and military-political alliances of the 17th–18th centuries, the events of the Great Northern War and the Battle of Poltava in 1709, the deployment of allied forces near Poltava, as well as the first wave of Ukrainian political emigration during the era of Pylyp Orlyk.
Separate sections are dedicated to honouring the memory of the fallen Carolinians on the battlefield of Poltava, the contemporary international ties between Poltava and Sweden, and the reserve’s long-standing partnership with the Swedish Military History Society (SMB) and the Swedish Military Library.
Guests at the event were also able to view the photographic exhibition "Poltava and its Surroundings through the Eyes of Swedish Officers in 1911". It featured photographs from the album of Swedish officers Karl Benedik and Frey Rudeberg, taken during their stay in Poltava in 1911. The purpose of their trip was to investigate the burial sites of the Carolinians and to draw up topographical maps of the area associated with the events of the Great Northern War.
The foreign guests also had the opportunity to take a guided tour in Swedish using an audio guide, which was unveiled at the museum in 2021 by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Ukraine, Tobias Tiberh.
The atmosphere of the venue was enhanced by a historical photo zone featuring flags, weapons and costumes of Ukrainian Cossacks and Swedes, as well as a book exhibition entitled "Ukraine and Sweden: Memory, Figures, Interpretations".
The reserve’s participation in "Sweden on Tour" provided an opportunity not only to showcase the historical and cultural heritage of the Poltava region, but also to highlight the continuity of Ukrainian-Swedish ties and the importance of their development today.
We would like to thank the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine, the Swedish Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine, Martin Oberg, and the Embassy team for the opportunity to join "Sweden on Tour" and be part of this important partnership event.
To the news list
