On November 12, 2026, at the age of 78, Hero of Ukraine, literary scholar, educator, and civic figure Vyacheslav Stepanovych Bryukhovetsky passed away. RBC-Ukraine reported this, citing the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA). The university called him one of those people 'who not only dreamed of an independent Ukraine, but also created it with their civic courage and will to win.' Bryukhovetsky left a deep mark on Ukrainian educational and public life: he was one of the founders of the People's Movement of Ukraine and a key figure in the revival of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy after the country gained independence.

The Journey from Vladikavkaz to the Institute of Literature

According to the Great Ukrainian Encyclopedia, Vyacheslav Bryukhovetsky was born on July 14, 1947, in Vladikavkaz. In 1974, he graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv State University and began working at the editorial office of the newspaper *Literaturna Ukraina*. This was followed by postgraduate studies at the Kyiv State Institute of Culture. In 1980, Bryukhovetsky received his Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences degree, and in 1986, his Doctor of Philological Sciences degree. From 1980 to 1991, he worked at the Institute of Literature of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, advancing from junior and senior researcher to head of the Department of Literary Theory. During this period, he authored numerous literary works and studies dedicated to the creative legacy of Ukrainian writers, particularly Lina Kostenko and Mykola Zerov.

How One Idea at a Forum Changed Ukrainian Higher Education

One of Bryukhovetsky's main achievements was the restoration of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy after Ukraine gained independence. By 1991, the centuries-old educational institution was no longer functioning as a university. On September 14, 1991, at a forum of the Ukrainian intelligentsia, Bryukhovetsky proposed restoring the academy. The initiative was supported by those present, including future Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk. As early as September 19, an order by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada 'On the Revival of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy' was issued. According to memoirs of participants, few initially believed the plan could be realized. However, Bryukhovetsky persistently sought out premises, teachers, and funding, negotiated with officials, and attracted people to the future academy.

A Chess Match for the Walls of Mohylanka

A famous story is connected with the return of the academy building. According to one version, the premises were successfully reclaimed after Bryukhovetsky played a game of chess with Alexander Korovin, the head of the Naval Political College, who then occupied the Mohylanka buildings. Bryukhovetsky was indeed an avid chess player and used to say that one could learn a lot about a person's character through the game. In 1992–1994, he served as the rector of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and from 1994 to 2007, as its president. He was later awarded the title of honorary president of the university.

The Bologna System Before the Bologna System

The revived academy combined the traditions of the historical institution with Western educational practices. It introduced bachelor's and master's degree programs, the freedom to choose disciplines, and special entrance tests. The university was one of the first in Ukraine to focus on the principles of the Bologna System even before its legislative implementation in the country. In 1996, the university opened its first master's programs, and in 2008, it established a doctoral school with Ph.D. training programs. Bryukhovetsky also attracted prominent politicians and public figures from Western Europe and the United States to the Supervisory Board. Ukrainian and English became the working languages of the university. NaUKMA notes that it was Bryukhovetsky who laid the foundations of a university culture built upon academic freedom, critical thinking, self-governance, and mutual respect.

'And Sometimes Ignorance is Better Than Knowledge'

In addition to his scientific and educational work, Bryukhovetsky participated in the country's civic and political life. He was one of the founders of the People's Movement of Ukraine and a member of the 'First of December' initiative group. At the same time, in an interview with Gazeta.ua, Bryukhovetsky emphasized that he devoted only one year of his life to politics—the period of the creation of the People's Movement. Recalling the revival of the academy, he confessed: 'If today, with my experience and everything I've gone through, they sent me back and said, "Here, revive the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy!"—I would say, "No, that's impossible!" Because now I know it's impossible, but back then I didn't. And sometimes ignorance is better than knowledge.'