Ukrainian Students Seek Opportunities Abroad, But War's Shadow Looms

Many students in Western Ukraine aspire to study abroad, but a significant number return home disillusioned. Taras Litkovets, vice-dean at Volhynia National University in Lutsk, observed this trend, noting that the desire to leave is strong, but the reality of returning quickly often follows.

Litkovets reflected on the pre-full-scale invasion period, specifically 2020 or 2021. If he had the chance to revisit those years, he stated he would focus on constructing robust bomb shelters and ensuring widespread first aid training for everyone. This sentiment highlights the profound impact the ongoing conflict has had on the younger generation's outlook and preparedness.

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If you could travel back in time and find yourself again in 2020 or 2021, one or two years before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Litkovets would build proper bomb shelters and send everyone to first aid courses.

He described the current mindset of young people, suggesting that the prolonged war has become normalized for them, akin to experiencing "bad weather." This normalization, he implies, diminishes their perception of the danger and perhaps their motivation to seek safety or prepare adequately for emergencies.

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The war is like bad weather for them.