BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE: THE PUBLICISM OF ULAS SAMCHUK AS A MORAL COMPASS

Abstract

Ulas Samchuk’s publicistic writing is not merely a literary or journalistic discourse but a profound moral and philosophical space in which the author seeks to identify the spiritual foundations and self-awareness of the Ukrainian nation. His texts become a kind of guiding compass in times of historical rupture, where the past and the future intersect, forming a field of national responsibility and historical memory. Samchuk interprets Ukraine’s destiny through the lens of moral choice, the role of the intelligentsia, and the people’s capacity for self-organization and self-affirmation. This article focuses on the analysis of the ethical, philosophical, and worldview principles of his publicistics. It emphasizes that Samchuk did not limit himself to documenting the socio-political events of the twentieth century but sought to interpret them, outlining the national mission of Ukrainians and their place within the European civilizational sphere. Particularly valuable is his understanding of the responsibility borne by the Ukrainian intellectual elite toward its people, the need for cultural unity, spiritual resilience, and the cultivation of historical continuity. Key publicistic works of the writer are analyzed; their ideological content and historical significance for the formation of national identity are determined. The study highlights how Samchuk constructs the concept of the nation as a subject of history, stressing the importance of memory, truth, and moral choice. His texts help contemporary readers comprehend the origins of the Ukrainian historical experience, evaluate the past consciously, and envision the future responsibly – without losing spiritual orientation or national values.