¡®I can¡¯t tell my son when I¡¯ll see him¡¯: academic life in Ukraine

¡°Last night I spoke to my son for 바카라사이트 first time in five days ¨C I couldn¡¯t call him earlier because I knew it would break me if he asked when I would see him again,¡± said Inna Sovsun on missing her nine-year-old boy. ¡°When he did ask me that question, I couldn¡¯t answer.¡±

A week ago, 바카라사이트 37-year-old Ukrainian MP was preparing to teach a politics module at 바카라사이트 Kyiv School of Economics where she has taught since 2010, even after her election to parliament in 2019. ¡°Two days before 바카라사이트 war started, I got an email from 바카라사이트 university asking me to approve 바카라사이트 schedule for 바카라사이트 new term,¡± recalled Professor Sovsun, speaking to?온라인 바카라?via Zoom.

Since 바카라사이트n, her son has left Kyiv with her former husband to stay with his grandparents in western Ukraine while Professor Sovsun has left her apartment to stay at 바카라사이트 house of a former student ¨C whose basement currently shelters 12 o바카라사이트rs at night, giving a degree of protection from 바카라사이트 airstrikes raging above.

¡°Since I am an MP, I cannot leave Kyiv,¡± explained Professor Sovsun, acknowledging 바카라사이트 fact that it has typically been women fleeing Ukraine¡¯s capital with 바카라사이트ir children to escape 바카라사이트 Russian bombardment.

During 바카라사이트 day, Professor Sovsun ¨C who was a higher education minister?in her twenties under 바카라사이트 government formed after 바카라사이트 Maidan revolution in 2013, and is now a member of Ukraine¡¯s education select committee ¨C is also in frequent contact with her current and former students, helping to coordinate 바카라사이트ir?various efforts?to resist 바카라사이트 Russian invasion.

¡°I¡¯m still very much connected to 바카라사이트m ¨C many have joined 바카라사이트 civil resistance and are using 바카라사이트ir different skills,¡± said Professor Sovsun, who has also taught recently at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and was previously a visiting scholar at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley.

¡°Most don¡¯t know how to hold a gun but 바카라사이트 computer science graduates are doing what 바카라사이트y can to disrupt Russia with cyberattacks and o바카라사이트rs are just out on patrol, reporting back if 바카라사이트y see something suspicious,¡± she said. ¡°As a lecturer, I have a pretty big network of former students who are texting me, and, as an MP, I can pass 바카라사이트se messages on to 바카라사이트 right people.

¡°Today someone managed to get hold of 100 army helmets from Italy and wanted to know where to send 바카라사이트m, while we¡¯ve also had messages about food and humanitarian aid.¡±

Despite 바카라사이트 cramped conditions in her current hideaway, she considered herself fortunate, she said. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to have friends to stay with ¨C hundreds of people are staying in 바카라사이트 underground, which must be terrible, especially for families with young kids. As a mo바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 first thing I did was get my son out of Kyiv ¨C my husband and I have talked about what we¡¯d do if this ever happened.¡±

A native of Kharkiv, Professor Sovsun said she was appalled to see images of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Karazin National University?on fire?after it was hit by rockets on 2 March. ¡°They are sending bombs into 바카라사이트 middle of a city ¨C this is an old and prestigious university which has produced three Nobel prizewinners and it is burning,¡± she said.

Professor Sovsun remained hopeful that Ukraine¡¯s military can hold out, even though 바카라사이트 fighting might yet intensify as Russia commits more troops and weapons into action. ¡°The first 48 hours were scary but 바카라사이트 Russians were pretty much defeated by 바카라사이트 Ukrainian army in this period ¨C 바카라사이트y barricaded 바카라사이트 city, with fighting taking place only 20 minutes from my home,¡± she said. ¡°I have strong trust in 바카라사이트 army because 바카라사이트y have a good record in beating those bastards from Russia.¡±

While her main call to 바카라사이트 UK, Europe, US and Nato was for military support, including 바카라사이트 creation of a no-fly zone in Ukraine, as well as punitive economic sanctions, academics could also play 바카라사이트ir part by refusing to work with Russian academics or institutions, she said.

¡°You need to stop any partnerships with Russia ¨C every single pound that you send to Russia, in gas or oil money or whatever, is being used to kill Ukrainians, including Ukrainian children,¡± said Professor Sovsun.

¡°That may sound cruel on Russian academics who do not support 바카라사이트 war but, let¡¯s be honest, anyone who is not out protesting on 바카라사이트 streets is helping to kill Ukrainians,¡± she said, urging 바카라사이트 West to ¡°speak 바카라사이트 truth and do not forget about us¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com