Nadia Svitlychna at 90: A Life of Courage, Dignity and Solidarity
On the 90th anniversary of Nadia Svitlychna’s birth, I remember my friend and colleague’s quiet courage, warmth and unwavering solidarity with those persecuted for their beliefs. From Soviet imprisonment to human rights advocacy and Radio Liberty broadcasts, she defended Ukrainian identity and preserved the voices of her fellow dissidents. I feel privileged to have known her and her brother Ivan.…
Nadia Svitlychna, a remarkable figure in Ukraine’s dissident movement, would have celebrated her 90th birthday on November 8, 2026. As part of the Sixtiers, or “shistdesiatnyky,” a generation of Ukrainian intellectuals seeking cultural and linguistic revival after Soviet repression, Svitlychna’s life exemplifies the struggle for freedom, national identity, and human dignity.
Despite her arrest and imprisonment in 1972 for anti-Soviet agitation, Svitlychna remained steadfast in her opposition to the Soviet regime. Her release in 1976 did not mark the end of her activism; she eventually emigrated to the United States with her children, continuing to advocate for the principles that defined her life.
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