2024 Recipient

The Omeljan Pritsak Book Prize in Ukrainian Studies, established in 2019 and sponsored by the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University, recognizes a distinguished book in the field of Ukrainian studies that was published in the previous calendar year. Omeljan Pritsak was an esteemed scholar of Ukrainian history and the primary founder of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. 

John R. Staples, Johann Cornies, the Mennonites, and Russian Colonialism in Southern Ukraine (University of Toronto Press, 2023)

The Committee has awarded an Honorary Mention to John Staples for Johann Cornies, the Mennonites, and Russian Colonialism in Southern Ukraine. Drawing on a wide range of materials, and using the case of Johann Cornies as an example, the author convincingly shows how the Mennonites and their leadership ended up contributing to Russia’s colonial project in Southern Ukraine and beyond. In doing so, the book shows an excellent use of new and old sources, as well as the ability to successfully link local micro-history with imperial macro-history. 

Winner: Serhiy Bilenky

Prize Committee: Margarita Balmaceda (chair), Yuliya Ilchuk, and Sarah Philips