Natalia Mykolaivna Yakovenko (; born 1942) is a Ukrainian historian and professor, known for her expertise in Latin linguistics and her contributions to the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Yakovenko's promotion of Ukrainian szlachta as a genuine part of the country's historical narrative had a significant influence on historical studies in Ukraine following the country's independence.
Education and research career Born in , a village in central Ukraine, Yakovenko graduated with a degree in classics from the University of Lviv in 1967. Following her graduation, she joined the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine as a researcher. Her academic career progressed when she became a lecturer at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in 1981.
In 1987, Yakovenko took a senior research position at the Institute of History of Ukraine under the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU). Four years later, in 1991, she was appointed chair of the NASU Institute of Ukrainian Archaeography and Source Studies. She earned her doctorate in historical sciences in 1994 and became chair of the NASU Department of History in 1995.
Since 1992, Yakovenko has served as a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Her research focuses on the paleography of Latin-language documents in Ukraine and the history of the Ukrainian gentry.
Yakovenko was a member of the first senate of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) from 2002 to 2005. In 2020, the UCU awarded her the title of Doctor honoris causa, the highest honor the university confers, in recognition of her contributions to education, culture, art, and ministry.
On 15 July 2026 Yakovenko was awarded the Order of Liberty by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Bibliography Myronova, V., Yakovenko, N. Textbook of Latin language. Yakovenko, N. Ukrainian nobility from the end of 14th century to the mid of 17th century. Ed.1. Naukova dumka. Kyiv 1993. Yakovenko, N. Ukrainian nobility from the end of 14th century to the mid of 17th century. Ed.2. Krytyka. Kyiv 2008. . Yakovenko, N. Outline of history of Ukraine from Ancient times to the end of 18th century . Ed.1. Heneza. Kiev 1997. . Yakovenko, N. Outline of history of Ukraine from Ancient times to the end of 18th century . Ed.2. Krytyka. Kyiv 2005. . Yakovenko, N. Outline of history of Ukraine from Ancient times to the end of 18th century . Ed.3. Krytyka. Kyiv 2006. . Yakovenko, N. Parallel world. Research on the history of representations and ideas in Ukraine in the 16th-17th centuries. Krytyka. Kyiv 2002. . Natalya Yakowenko. An Outline of History of Medieval and Early Modern Ukraine. Third Revised and Enlarged Edition. Krytyka. Kyiv 2006. . Yakovenko, N. Introduction to History. Krytyka. Kyiv 2007. . Yakovenko, N. Mirror of identity. Research on history of representations and ideas in Ukraine in the 17th century - beginning of 18th centuries. Laurus. Kyiv 2012. . Natalia Yakovenko. In Search of a New Heaven. The Life and Texts of Ioanikii Galiatovskii. Laurus. Krytyka. Kyiv 2017. . Natalia Yakovenko. Grace and Retribution. Miraculous Icons of the Blessed Mother in 17th- & 18th-century Ukraine. Krytyka. Ukrainian Catholic University Press. Kyiv – Lviv 2026. .
See also Handbook on history of Ukraine
References
External links .
Personal interview
Klochko, D. In order to move forward it is necessary to talk the language of the end of 20th century. Newspaper Den. 21 January 2000 Desyatyryk, D. Great illusion. Newspaper Den. 2 August 2002 Chornei, Yu. For historian it is not given to realize the world as it used to be. Mirror Weekly. 25 January 2003 Makhun, S. A historian is a slave of source. Mirror Weekly. 16 October 2004 Makhun, S. ...To find real normal person that lost in history. Mirror Weekly. 3 December 2005
Others about N.Yakovenko Desyatyryk, D. A wonderful parallel world. Newspaper Den. (recension on the work "Parallel world. Research on the history of representations and ideas in Ukraine in 16th – 17th centuries") Hudzyk, K. Parallel world. Newspaper Den. (recension on the work "Parallel world. Research on the history of representations and ideas in Ukraine in 16th – 17th centuries") Yakovenko's profile at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy website Nahorna, T. Freedon lecture. Without quotations. Zbruč. 29 May 2013 Marynovych, M. Presentation of Natalia Yakvenko. Zbruč. 31 May 2013 Hrytsak, Ya. Word of gratitude to Natalia Yakovenko. Zbruč 30 May 2013