A small bronze sculpture dedicated to 18th-century traveller Vasyl Hryhorovych-Barsky, known in Greek as Vasileios Grigorovits Barsky, was unveiled in Larnaca on Sunday.
According to an announcement by the Ukrainian community, Barsky was a traveller from Kyiv who crossed Cyprus on foot, lived on the island and recorded daily life, landscapes and local communities in remarkable detail.
His writings are still regarded as one of the most valuable primary historical sources on Cyprus.
First international installation of ‘Shukai!’ project
The sculpture was donated to the city with the support of its benefactors, cultural centre Obiimy Cyprus and the family initiative Sushko Philanthropy.
It was installed as part of the Ukrainian “Shukai!” project, which for almost a decade has told the story of Kyiv through small bronze sculptures. The installation in Cyprus marks the first time the project has expanded beyond Ukraine.
According to the organisers, the choice of Cyprus carries strong symbolism. While Barsky was among the first people from Kyiv to describe and sketch the island more than 300 years ago, over 30,000 Ukrainians now live in Cyprus.
Strengthening Cyprus-Ukraine ties
Speaking at the event, Anna Sushko, co-founder of Obiimy Cyprus and Sushko Philanthropy, said Cyprus had become a second home for many Ukrainians.
“The community here is strong and welcoming, which makes it especially meaningful for us to give something back to the city that welcomed us so warmly,” she said.
Larnaca Deputy Mayor Iasonas Iasonides expressed pride that the Sushko family and Obiimy Cultural Centre are based in the city.
He noted that Larnaca has become a reference point for a number of important initiatives linked to culture, history and broader public interest issues.
He also praised the Ukrainian community in Larnaca, describing Ukrainians as a highly productive and educated people who contribute to society, the economy and culture.
Preserving a shared cultural heritage
Project scientific adviser Lyola Filimonova said that Barsky described himself as a “walking pilgrim from Kyiv” and always emphasised his origins.
Throughout his travels, he documented the countries he visited with deep respect and devoted particularly warm observations to Cyprus.
She added that his legacy serves as a reminder of the historic connections between Cyprus and Ukraine and the value of their shared cultural memory.
Born in 1701 and dying in 1747, Barsky began his journey from Kyiv on foot in 1724 and travelled for 24 years without money, often battling illness and hardship.
His travels took him to Italy, Greece, Mount Athos, Jerusalem, Egypt and Syria. He visited Cyprus five times, documenting the island with enthusiasm and rich detail, often illustrating his observations with his own sketches.
The sculpture is located at the Obiimy Cyprus Cultural Centre, 12 Grigori Afxentiou Street, Larnaca, and is open to visitors daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
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