February 24, 2022: The Day Ukraine Changed Forever
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. This war has brought immense pain, destruction, and loss - yet it has also revealed the unbreakable spirit of our people, their unity, and extraordinary strength.
Ukrainian soldiers became heroes, defending every inch of our land. Volunteers and our people united and stepped forward, keeping hope alive in homes, schools, and hospitals across the country. We grieve for the students, professors, and alumni of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy who also gave their lives in this war. We carry their memory with us always.
Today we fight for freedom, independence, and the future of our children. We will endure. We will prevail. We will rebuild a strong, free, and thriving Ukraine, and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy will continue its historic mission of upholding the values of the nation.
Let us honor the sacrifice of all who gave their lives for us, so that we can live in freedom. We stand united until Victory for Ukraine. Слава Україні!
Marta Farion, President, Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America
Philanthropy from the Heart – Dr. Myroslava Ivantsiv left a Majestic Legacy
For Dr. Myroslava Ivantsiv, education and research were the keys to building the future of an independent, secure Ukraine, through discipline and commitment. In 2016 she established the Myroslava Ivantsiv Endowment with a generous donation of $100,000 for the implementation of scholarship, research, publications, and other projects to strengthen scientific research at NaUKMA , and for strengthening the university’s capacity and competencies as a research institution.
The annual proceeds of this permanent endowment support competitive research grants for faculty and scholars, strengthening the university’s role as a leading research institution in Ukraine. A list of projects by year is listed in the following link: https://www.ukma.edu.ua/index.php/2018-03-26-09-25-56/3675-konkurs-fondu-ivantsiv
Dr. Ivantsiv also created an endowed fund at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta. Altogether, she directed more than half a million dollars toward scholarship and academic development—an investment in Ukraine’s intellectual future.
Myroslava Ivantsiv (February 13, 1919, Vynnyky, Ukraine — January 14, 2021, United States) was a civic leader, a philanthropist, a dentist by profession - a woman of great intellect and unwavering devotion to Ukraine.
She lived a long and remarkable life spanning more than a century living to the age of 101, shaped by war, displacement, immigration, and tireless professional dedication. Born in Vynnyky near Lviv, she graduated from a Lviv gymnasium in 1938. She studied dentistry in Warsaw, Berlin, and Wrocław, earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1948 from Heidelberg University. She practiced dentistry in Austria and Germany before emigrating to Chicago in 1949, where she became an active member of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America.
Despite decades abroad and an ocean separating her from her homeland, Dr. Ivantsiv never severed her ties with Ukraine. She crossed the Atlantic dozens of time to visit family, to support dissidents, to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian intellectuals known as The Sixtiers (Шістедесятники), to engage in the Ukrainian women’s movement, and to advocate for Ukraine’s national revival even before independence of 1991. To many, she became a spiritual sister - generous, attentive, and deeply committed.
She passed away in Chicago in January 2021 at the age of 101, leaving behind not only cherished memories but a living legacy: enduring support for science, education, and the next generation of Ukrainian scholars.
Dr. Myroslava Ivantsiv’s name belongs among those we honor, remember, and pass on to future generations. She left an eternal legacy.
Let’s Give an Angel Wings
Join the initiative of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America and support the scholarship program Individual Leadership Trajectory at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy — giving war-affected children the wings of protection, love, and opportunity they deserve.
These students are the children of fallen soldiers, those missing in action, and those still serving on the front lines. Their childhoods have been marked by air raid sirens instead of school bells, and by hurried goodbyes instead of certainty. Yet even in the midst of war, they must make life-defining decisions about their education, careers, and future.
Thanks to the generosity of the Ukrainian American community, two cohorts of the program have already been funded, providing scholarships to 82 high school students (grades 10–11) from across Ukraine. For the 2026–2027 academic year, we hope to extend this lifeline to even more young people — ensuring they can continue their studies surrounded by light, warmth, and care rather than fear and uncertainty.
Below are the stories of two students whose lives were transformed by the program.
Yehor Romanenko
“The program didn’t give me a ready-made path — it gave me the skills to build my own.”
Originally from Donetsk, Yehor and his family were forced to flee their home twice due to Russian occupation. Now living in Kyiv, he is a first-year student in the interdisciplinary program “Political Leadership and Economic Diplomacy” at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Yehor is actively involved in student government, serves on the Student Election Commission, and was awarded the Yuriy Arabskyi Memorial Scholarship established by Chicago businesswoman Oksana Khanas.
He credits the Individual Leadership Trajectory program with helping him make a confident and intentional choice about his future. “It taught me how to think independently, how to take responsibility, and how to design my own path,” he says.
Tetiana Prykhodko
“I know why I chose this path.”
Tetiana was just 15 when she joined the first cohort of the Individual Leadership Trajectory program. She is from Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. Her father was killed in action in the Luhansk region.
Determined to serve her country, Tetiana initially planned a military career. But her studies at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy strengthened her confidence and helped her better understand where she could make the greatest impact.
“It was a difficult journey — with tears, doubts, and hard work,” she reflects. “But without ITL, I would not be where I am today. It changed my life.”
Today, Tetiana studies Therapy and Rehabilitation at Taurida National University named after V.I. Vernadsky, preparing to become a physical rehabilitation specialist dedicated to helping wounded Ukrainian defenders recover and rebuild their lives.
These students do not ask for pity. They ask for opportunity.
By supporting the Individual Leadership Trajectory program, you are not only funding education — you are restoring stability, dignity, and hope. You are helping young people who have already endured unimaginable loss to build strong, purposeful futures.
Let’s give them wings.
The program is led by Dr. Tetiana Nahorniak, Doctor of Political Science, Professor, and Dean of Kyiv-Mohyla School of Professional and Continuing Education (kma_pro) at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Learn more about the program:
Meet the program’s benefactors and partners:
https://pro.ukma.edu.ua/our-partners
How You Can Help
One scholarship = $1,000
Covers one semester of education for one student.
Ways to Give:
· Zelle: mail@kmfoundation.org
· Online: kmfoundation.org → DONATE
· Every donation is more than financial support — it is a message to these young people that they are not alone.
Together, we invest in Ukraine’s future leaders.
After Service — Back to University
Ukrainian Veterans Are Building Civilian Leadership Skills at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
This May, the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America will host charitable events in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York to support the Center for Leadership of Ukraine’s Defenders at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Founded just over a year ago, the Center helps veterans transition from military service to civilian life through education and community-building. Its flagship three-month certificate program, “Leadership and Resilience,” prepares veterans for careers in public administration, civic leadership, and business. Through case studies, practical simulations, and conversations with instructors from government and the private sector, the program treats education not as theory, but as a tool for reintegration.
Equally important is the sense of community. Veterans study in an environment where shared experience and values are understood without explanation. The Center also supports graduates as they continue shaping their professional paths.
Educational reintegration programs for veterans remain rare in Ukraine. Kyiv-Mohyla’s initiative aims to serve as a model for other universities seeking to support those returning from war.
Dmytro Ternovoi — The Story of a Student Veteran
Dmytro Ternovoi’s path to university leadership training began on the battlefield.
Born in Feodosia, Crimea, Dmytro made the decision in 2014 after Russia’s occupation of the peninsula, that he would one day join Ukraine’s Armed Forces. “It was clear the conflict was not over,” he recalls. “There would be a second round.”
In 2019, he began serving as a volunteer combat medic and later signed a contract with the Ukrainian Marines. He served in Mariupol and in the Donetsk region, embedded with infantry units. As a platoon combat medic, he carried both a rifle and a medical backpack, providing lifesaving aid under fire while sharing the same risks as the soldiers beside him.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Dmytro’s unit had already spent months in trenches. In May of that year, near Avdiivka, a mine exploded behind him. Shrapnel tore through his lungs and internal organs. His evacuation lasted nearly fifteen hours under extreme conditions.
After five years of service, Dmytro transitioned to civilian life in 2024. He enrolled in a master’s program in public administration and joined the “Leadership and Resilience” certificate program at the Center for Leadership of Ukraine’s Defenders at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
“I had planned to stay in the military for life,” he says. “Suddenly, I needed to build a civilian future. The program gave me a community where our shared values are understood without explanation.”
Today, Dmytro is building a new mission — transforming battlefield resilience into civic leadership.
Please help Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission
Building Veteran-Friendly Business Practices in Ukraine
Ukraine is gradually developing a more systemic approach to how businesses work with veterans. The Center for Leadership of Ukraine’s Defenders at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is proud to be part of this evolving process.
On February 12, companies that are implementing veteran-focused policies within their organizations gathered in Kyiv for a working meeting. The format prioritized substantive discussion over formal presentations. Participants shared practical experiences, results, challenges, and areas where solutions still require refinement.
Representing the Center were Yana Chapailo and Mariia Savrun. For the university team, participating in dialogue between business leaders, educators, and veterans is essential. Reintegration is not the responsibility of one sector alone — it requires coordinated effort.
Notably, among the speakers were graduates of the Center’s “Leadership and Resilience” program. Their presence underscored an important shift: education is not the endpoint. Veterans are increasingly contributing to decision-making processes and shaping institutional approaches across industries.
Such meetings mark a transition from isolated initiatives to more comprehensive and accountable strategies. This work takes time, careful attention to detail, and a willingness to rethink established practices.
The principles of veteran-friendly business referenced during the discussion were developed by Starlight Media with expert support from Veteran Hub and in partnership with Forbes Ukraine.
As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty, building structures that support veterans in civilian life is becoming not only a social responsibility but a long-term investment in the country’s resilience and economic future.
Kyiv Mohyla Academy Mourns Fallen Alumnus Artem Shtypa
The Kyiv Mohyla Academy mourns the loss of Artem Shtypa, a former chemistry student at NaUKMA, who was killed on January 12, 2026, near Hryhorivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Artem died while carrying out a combat mission defending Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity when his vehicle was struck by an enemy drone.
Artem left university in his fourth year to pursue his passion for hands-on work. A talented engineer, he excelled at building, repairing, and improving complex systems, earning a reputation as a problem-solver who could tackle any technical challenge.
Despite leaving academic life, Artem stayed connected to the Academy, often visiting the chemistry department to help with equipment and share his expertise. Classmates remember him for his sincerity, openness, and constant smile. “He could make anything work,” recalls Yevheniya Martsenyuk. Friends describe him as a caring older brother, a masterful storyteller, and a friend whose optimism brightened every adventure.
Artem’s family remembers him as devoted, courageous, and kind—a son, father, brother, and friend who embodied integrity and heart. His skill, warmth, and spirit will remain a lasting part of the Academy’s community and legacy.
Kyiv Mohyla Academy Revisits the Battle of Kruty
The legacy of resistance and the relevance of military history
In January 1918, Ukrainian volunteers gave their nation a fighting chance. Based on this legacy, Kyiv Mohyla Academy hosted a lecture by historian and Azov Regiment officer Vladyslav Dutchak, titled “Kruty: A Victory We Were Taught to Call Defeat,” as part of the “Military History of Ukraine” series.
Dutchak challenged the longstanding myth of “300 student casualties” and reframed the Battle of Kruty as a strategic defensive operation by the Ukrainian People’s Republic. The battle delayed advancing enemy forces, allowing the Ukrainian delegation to negotiate the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, laying the foundation for international recognition of Ukraine and the preservation of its early statehood.
The lecture also highlighted the fates of participants who survived Kruty, many of whom continued to serve as officers, intelligence operatives, and public officials, resisting Soviet rule for decades. Notably, Matvii Danyliuk, the only Kruty veteran to live to see independent Ukraine, and his great-grandson Volodymyr Ishchuk, who died in the 2014 battles of Ilovaisk, illustrate this continuity of Ukrainian resistance.
The event sparked discussion on historical memory, the legacy of resistance, and the relevance of military history for contemporary Ukraine.
Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal Awarded by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science
The academic journal Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal has been selected in a competitive review by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science (MES) to receive financial support as a Category “A” scholarly publication for 2026–2027.
This marks the first institutional mechanism by MES aimed at providing systematic support to Ukrainian academic journals, focusing on quality, academic integrity, and international integration.
Only journals indexed in Scopus and/or Web of Science were eligible to participate. Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal, one of three NaUKMA journals in Category “A,” is among this year’s winners.
“This is a tremendous achievement for our entire editorial team, the international editorial board, the Faculty of Humanities, and NaUKMA itself, which continues to be a leader in the transformation of Ukrainian scholarly publishing,” said Editor-in-Chief Marуna Tkachuk.
The journal publishes research in literature, history, and philosophy, with a focus on Ukrainian and East European studies. It features an international editorial board and a broad community of authors and readers worldwide.
We thank the NaUKMA community, partners, and supporters, including alumni, for helping to sustain and develop the journal. Congratulations to the editorial team on this important achievement!
More information: https://shhr.ink/E-2L-c
NaUKMA Law Faculty Team Represents Ukraine at ICC Mediation Competition in Paris
In early February 2026, a combined team from the NaUKMA Faculty of Law and the Ukrainian Catholic University — consisting of Dariia Zaborovets, Maksym Baryshov, Veronika Nazarko, and Petro Boichuk, under the guidance of coach Diana Protsenko — represented Ukraine at the 21st International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Mediation Competition in Paris.
This premier educational event in the field of mediation brought together 58 top teams from leading law schools worldwide — from the U.S. and Singapore to Germany and India - with over 350 students and coaches and more than 130 world-class judges and mediators.
These competitions are about more than points or rankings. They foster: Practical skills - resolving real commercial disputes through interests rather than pressure or manipulation; Cross-cultural understanding - appreciating negotiation and business styles from around the world; Ukrainian legal diplomacy — showcasing the professionalism, intelligence, and resilience of Ukraine on the global stage.
Participation at this level was made possible thanks to support from the National Association of Mediators of Ukraine and alumni participants, with special thanks to the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) for trusting and supporting Ukrainian students.
Lights and Heat for Ukraine’s Students
After Russian missile strikes damaged Ukraine’s power grid, cities like Kyiv face long nights without electricity or heat. In Vorzel, student dormitories risk going cold and dark — but you can make a difference.
Thanks to supporters of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, $16,500 has already brought solar panels and backup equipment to keep lights and heat on. Another $5,400 provided plumbing and electrical tools, helping students stay safe, study, and continue their education despite the war.
Every donation is a light in a dorm window — a chance for students to keep learning, even in the darkest times.
Donate online: kmfoundation.org → DONATE
Zelle: mail@kmfoundation.org
Checks: Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, P.O. Box 46009, Chicago, IL 60646
All gifts are fully tax-deductible. Help warm Ukraine — one dorm at a time.
Thank you for helping Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission