In 1996, the Ukrainian Association of Karma Kagyu Buddhists was founded to help spread this trend of the teaching. Today in Ukraine, this is the largest Buddhist network, with 16 centers. The headquarters of the association is located in the far western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod. Its highest authority is the Conference of Representatives of the Centers.
Ukraine has known superficially about Buddhism for a long time, for the Cossacks had regular contacts with the Kalmyk people, who profess Buddhism. But interest in its philosphical and scientific aspects started among the country’s intelligentsia not earlier than in the 19th century. Then during the Soviet period, any interest in religious teachings different from Soviet ideology was persecuted. Consequently, the first open systematic lectures on Buddhism date back to 1989.
Among the various Buddhist schools now in Ukraine:
In 1996, the Ukrainian Association of Karma Kagyu Buddhists was founded to help spread this trend of the teaching. Today in Ukraine, this is the largest Buddhist network, with 16 centers. The headquarters of the association is located in the far western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod. Its highest authority is the Conference of Representatives of the Centers.