Yurii SIRENKO, a representative of the 211th separate Battalion of Sumy Region, Commander of moral and psychological support, during the academic council on May 29, 2023, thanked the staff of Sumy National Agrarian University for their support and assistance, improving the combat capability of the military unit. He thanked everybody for responsible civic position, personal contribution to preserving the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine. The soldier noted that the battalion has many graduates and students of our higher education institution, who now courageously defend the borders of the state. In addition, Yurii Sirenko focused on the significant volunteer assistance of employees and students.
“Dear teachers and students, classes at the University are temporarily suspended. Please stay calm. Stay at home. Students in hostels are asked to stay at their places. We will provide you with all necessary security measures,”- a post on social networks of the Rector of Sumy NAU Volodymyr Ladyka. 7: 30, February 24. Fear, suspense, sounds of explosions, enemy vehicles in the streets.
Neither administration, nor staff, nor students had any doubts: Kyiv will survive, Ukraine will survive. Our only task is to support and help each other, stay together and continue studies.
In the first days of the full-scale invasion teachers and administration spent the nights with students in dormitories, bringing food and warm clothes from home. More than 500 Ukrainian students and more than 170 foreign students remained in hostels.
The university also helped the military defenders and defenders of territorial defense forces, citizens, who live near SNAU, preparing meals, providing food and temporary housing.
Our young people began to study not only agronomy, engineering, physics or economics, but also first aid and rules how to handle weapons.
We volunteered a lot together: we made trench candles (more than 2 thousand during the winter season), held charity auctions, concerts and lotteries, fairs and donated blood. We bought clothes, shoes, heaters and food for the military men of Sumy region. In addition, we helped children deprived of parental care, the sick, and the elderly.
During the full-scale invasion, Sumy NAU established ties with “BORSCH” company and Alex Lissitsa for joint volunteer activities. In spring 2022, our university received charitable assistance in the form of vegetable seeds, fertilizers and plant protection products.
Many of our teachers had to go abroad. But even outside of Ukraine, they help, hold educational events, remind the whole world that the war goes on and we need support. For example, with the assistance of Olena Melnyk, head of the International Projects Sector, associate professor of the Department of Ecology and Botany, who now lives in Switzerland, SNAU scientists together with Swiss and British colleagues are implementing a project to restore the damaged lands as a result of military operations. Kseniia BLUMSKA-DANKO, director of the SNAU Promotion Office, associate professor of the Department of Marketing and Logistics, and now an employee of the University of Paris-Saclay (France), actively participates in the SEED Project, which allows farmers to develop their business ideas and even receive financial assistance.
In addition, Sumy National Agrarian University has repeatedly become a platform for international diplomatic meetings.
The war, unfortunately, isn’t over, but we are close to the victory. Teachers and students, administration and employees of Sumy NAU put efforts for our common peaceful sky over our heads.
