Student life barely returned to normal after Covid-19, when Russia invaded Ukraine (Representational)
Kyiv, Ukraine:
Anton Yushyn spent four years studying Italian at Kiev University, but the outbreak of war taught him the most valuable lesson of his student life: prioritizing what is most important.
When he enrolled at the National Linguistic University in Kiev, Russia had not yet invaded, and his main concerns were socializing and passing exams to appease his parents.
“Maybe it wasn’t my goals that changed, but my values,” Yushyn, 22, told AFP on graduation day in Kiev last month.
“Before, everything was party and fun. Now we need to spend more time with family and friends because they can leave at any time,” he said.
Thousands of Ukrainians who graduated this summer from some 300 universities are entering a society transformed by war – their futures are in doubt, with no end to the fighting in sight.
As Ukraine mobilizes young people to replenish the army’s already-large ranks, graduates face the prospect of being drafted when they turn 25.
Higher education was not immune to the conflict.
Dozens of teachers and teachers have fought on the front line and a fifth of the sector’s facilities have been damaged or destroyed by Russian bombing.
In December 2022, a missile landed just a few hundred meters from the Yushyn campus.
To stay or leave
But on graduation day, the atmosphere at Yushyn’s alma mater was festive. The scent wafted through the warm summer air and staff congratulated the joyful students on completing their studies in the face of historic turmoil.
Student life has barely returned to normal after the Covid pandemic when Russia invaded in February 2021.
Universities suspended classes and Korean language student Nikoletta Shova was sent by her parents to stay with relatives in Italy.
The 22-year-old compared the “emotional” time abroad to being in a “stupor”, and was left wondering if she would ever be able to return.
Teaching resumed at most universities just a few weeks later – online or in person – when Russian forces were still on the outskirts of Kiev.
Shova returned after three months away and managed to finish his degree in person while raising money for the war effort with classmates.
Now, with the diploma in hand, the uncertainty returned.
She was considering studying abroad – possibly marketing in the US – but was also open to finding a creative job at home.
Building a future in Ukraine despite the war was possible, she said, borrowing a popular phrase to emphasize that perseverance would be required: “those who don’t take risks never drink champagne.”
Jokes, memes
“So I’m being realistic, but with a little bit of positivity,” she said of her future.
Daryna Dekhtiar, 22, also a graduate of Kiev National Linguistic University, was paralyzed when Russia invaded.
“I didn’t cry at all. I just went on autopilot,” she said, but her friends also helped lift her spirits, she added.
“We created our own memes, our jokes, everything became much easier,” she recalled.
Dana Andriichuk, who had already gotten an office job upon graduation, was rushing to meet friends after the ceremony.
She didn’t want to worry about the relative comfort of her student years or spend too much time thinking about the prospect of a long war.
“I’m trying to avoid being a pessimist stuck in the past. I want to live now and not in the future because we don’t know what will happen next,” she said.
“If the government encourages young people to stay and do everything they can to build a better future, even in a state of war – and society becomes nationally aware – then we might consider staying in the country,” she said.
– ‘Don’t run and hide’ –
Like thousands of other male graduates, Yushyn doesn’t have as much freedom of choice. Authorities have banned men aged between 18 and 60 from leaving Ukraine.
Thousands of people left illegally and dozens died trying.
But Yushyn was resigned to life at home.
“Real men don’t run and hide. If the time comes and I receive a summons, I won’t run away,” he told AFP.
“I can curl up, cry, sit here shaking all I want, it’s not going to change the trajectory of the rocket,” he said.
Whatever the future holds, he said he probably won’t use Italian, but is determined to spend his time as best he can.
“I need to use it to the fullest.”
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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