English Section

Radio Poland’s Ukraine section turns 30

29.09.2021 15:30
Wednesday marks 30 years since Radio Poland set up its Ukraine section after the breakup of the Soviet empire.
Radio Polands Ukrainian Section is marking its 30th year on air.
Radio Poland’s Ukrainian Section is marking its 30th year on air.Image: Polish Radio

In the autumn of 1991, Polish Radio’s international division, then known as Radio Polonia, expanded to include a Ukrainian-language service.

Earlier that year, the Polish public broadcaster began unofficial broadcasts in Ukrainian in response to the collapse of the Soviet Union and Kyiv’s declaration of independence.

During the next three decades, the Ukrainian Section continued to air programmes about Polish-Ukrainian relations as well as Poland’s current affairs, social policy issues, and domestic and foreign policies.

These topics continue to be brought to Ukrainian-speaking audiences internationally, including Ukrainian nationals living in Poland.

Other themes include joint initiatives by Polish people living across the border in Ukraine and Poland-based Ukrainians, as well as promotion of shared projects by the two countries' diasporas in the European Union, the United States and Canada.

Under its various names, Radio Poland has been reporting on newsworthy, often pivotal events in the country, for 85 years, except for the interruption caused by the outbreak of World War II. 

Radio Poland, also known as Polish Radio’s External Service (Polskie Radio dla Zagranicy), offers listeners around the globe an array of up-to-date and comprehensive news on Poland, while also presenting the Polish perspective on key issues of the contemporary world.

At present, Radio Poland broadcasts programming in Polish and five foreign languages: English, German, Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian.

(pm/gs)