We will return to an independent Ukraine

• April 2014. Russia annexes Crimea – the true beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
• Ukrainians in Poland say that even the smallest efforts can help save their country. 
• Stay in Poland? Stay in Ukraine? Go back and fight? Escape from the country? This choice should be made alone
• The students emphasise that this war has united not only Ukrainians, but also most of the West.

Myroslava had just finished doing yoga when she got a text. Viktoriia was in her dorm room and was preparing for class when her boyfriend called her. Yaroslava was woken by a text message from her mother, while Oleksander answered a call in Lebanon, where he was enjoying a well-deserved holiday following the end of his exams. News of the war outbreak reached them while they were going about their daily routines and turned their existing lives upside down. 

This war has been going on for eight years.

"The war has started, but we are safe" – wrote Yaroslav Yarotnyk's mother in a text message following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Most Ukrainian students have families in Ukraine. Some of the families have escaped to Poland, others are sheltering from the bombings in basements, the underground, and bomb shelters. 

Viktoria Mygal's family is currently in Lviv, and her boyfriend is at the centre of events in Kiev. He was also studying in Poland, but he went home for spring break, and didn't make it back before the war broke out. He became a firefighter as part of the territorial defense force. – Many people are trying to leave Ukraine, but there is practically no way out of Kiev. All the bridges have been destroyed. My mother tells me that the Russian troops are acting like terrorists. I am very concerned about my family. I am physically here, but my heart is with them, with Ukraine – says Viktoriia. 

Oleksander Prokopiuk's parents are practically at the front line. His dad is fighting in the army, while his mum is a volunteer in the army. – This has been the case for eight years now, because this war has been going on for so long - adds Oleksandr. He received news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine while on holiday. As soon as the initial shock wore off, he decided to return to Poland. But he won't be staying here for long.

– I've been thinking a lot about what to do. At first I was afraid, but I came to the conclusion that if the Russians destroy Kiev, which is where all my best memories come from, if my friends and, above all, my family are gone, then life will no longer have any meaning. I can see that Ukraine is not giving up, so if we have a chance to win this war we must do our best. That's why I'm gathering the most necessary items and going to Kiev to fight. I want to support my country – says Oleksandr, adding that he and his friends have organised a local partisan unit, and they intend to build barricades and fight. Oleksandr is studying veterinary medicine, so he believes that he will also be able to use his knowledge to provide medical assistance.

Everyone is helping as much as they can

The donation organised by Oleksandr was combined with a similar initiative at the university by vet Yulia Stetsiura, who works at the Department and Clinic of Surgery at UPWr. Myroslava Lutsiv, who also helped with the collection, emphasises that they managed to get a whole truckload of essential items. 

– In Wrocław, the Greek Catholic community is organising donation collections and daily prayers for Ukraine. My boyfriend also created an internet group at his university so that students could be in constant contact with lecturers and other students to inform them about what is happening in our country – adds Viktoriia. 

Yaroslav, in turn, says that he and his friends from work are helping Ukrainian refugees – they are looking for housing for them. They have already helped nearly 50 people. He is also doing his part – he has managed to provide pillows, blankets and duvets for his fellow citizens seeking refuge from the war.

– We have to do everything we can to keep up the momentum. Both our leaders and we ourselves, ordinary citizens. We have to fight, go to demonstrations, and share real information about this war. After all, it is not only Ukraine's war, but all of us against Putin's tyranny and propaganda – points out Oleksandr, emphasising that he is pleased that most of the world, and Poland above all, are helping Ukraine. 

Myroslava, who is also impressed by the scale of aid that everyone is providing Ukraine with, underlines that nobody should feel guilty that they are safe in Poland or that they are not doing enough: – I felt that way at first, but you have to think about doing what you can, about the fact that there are many ways to assist Ukraine. Every little helps! I am proud of how we aid each other and at the same time I am grateful for the help and huge support of the university, and the people of Poland – says the student. 

Yaroslav admits that since the outbreak of the war, he has been receiving a lot of supporting messages that give him strength, and lets him know that he is not alone. Thankfully, all the students we talked to say that they constantly receive support from the people around them.

Stay, return or escape?

Oleksandr decided to go to the front line, but he doesn’t insist that anyone should follow in his footsteps. He knows that this is a very difficult decision, and everyone should make it in accordance with their own conscience and with full responsibility for their decision.  

A similar opinion is expressed by Yaroslav, who is doing his bit to help from Poland. – I'm not judging anyone. You have to choose your own fate. I  am only appealing to my fellow citizens who are fleeing Ukraine to appreciate the help they get, and not to be fussy about which help to accept. I was sorry to hear that there are some people who are behaving like this in this situation. We should simply be grateful for the help and kindness we get  – emphasises Yaroslav, adding that he himself is grateful for all the support given to Ukraine in this fight, both material and moral. 

At the same time he is incredibly proud of his fellow citizens. He believes that everyone who is still in the country is a hero. And that they all show the same courage that President Volodymyr Zelenski is showing the world. – It's amazing that despite bombs being dropped, shots fired, and death surrounding them, everyone is trying to  working normally. The Russians are aiming their missiles at hospitals, but Ukrainian firefighters, doctors, people responsible for water and electricity, etc., are not leaving their posts. Even my dad, who is a veterinarian, goes to work every day to treat animals, knowing that a bomb could fall on the clinic at any time – says the student about the perseverance of Ukrainians. 

Things will never be the same.

– War changes people. It forces us to take action and make decisions that we have never had to before. It brings out the best and the worst in people, – says Viktoriia.

War also brings people together – say the students of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. And they admit that it is only now that Ukraine, which has been independent for thirty years, is really united, that the Russian-speaking east and the Ukrainian-speaking west of the country are finally forming one state and one nation. They also unanimously believe that Ukraine will win this war. Myroslava and Yaroslav are even going a step further – they are already making plans for the future. Initially, they both wanted to stay in Poland after graduation or go somewhere further to the West. But these plans have changed. Now they dream of returning to their homeland. – We will return to an independent Ukraine – they say.

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