Weaponizing Education: Classrooms Defending Ukrainian Culture

In November 2013, then-President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych rejected the European Union’s proposed association agreement. His decision sparked a subsequent period of civil unrest and protests within Ukraine from late 2013 to early 2014. Due to growing public backlash, Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014, and a new government was established to initiate the country’s shift toward the West — the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). During this transitional period, known as the Revolution of Dignity, clashes between state forces and protesters resulted in the deaths of 108 protesters, 13 police officers, and the wounding of many more. Amidst the chaos, pro-Russian sentiment emerged, but was insufficient for separatism without the direct intervention of the Russian military.

On February 27, Russian forces invaded the Crimean Peninsula, seized control of the Crimean parliament, and installed the pro-Russian Aksyonov government. On March 16, 2014, Crimea’s authorities declared independence and, with no international oversight, announced a referendum to join the Russian Federation. Russia formally accepted Crimea’s accession and incorporated it as a part of the federation on the 18th. In April 2014, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk seized government buildings and declared themselves independent republics. These secessions lacked credible international oversight and were widely considered illegitimate, marking the start of the war in the Donbas region between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists.

From 2014 to 2021, the Ukrainian government lost control of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. As the fighting continued, Russia continued to supply weapons, troops, and intelligence to these republics. In 2022, Russia formally recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), followed by a full-scale invasion. As of February 2025, the United Nations in Ukraine had verified 12,654 deaths and over 29,392 injuries since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

While the media continues to showcase the war — often reducing it to breaking headlines and statistics — the lived experiences of the Ukrainian people reveal far more than just numbers. To better understand the implications of the occupation, I reached out to Mila, a 17-year-old Ukrainian student from Odessa who is currently in 11th grade.

Mila, 17, attends school in Odessa, Ukraine.

She described her typical school days before the war as “calm and predictable” — attending school, meeting with friends, and learning in classrooms. She enjoyed playing games during breaks and participating in after-school clubs.

Now, her school follows a hybrid model of both online and in-person classes. Instead of a school bell or morning announcements, her days are interrupted by air raid sirens and missile strikes. She admits that the most challenging part of her day is the constant feeling of uncertainty.

“You never know if there will be school tomorrow or if we’ll have to sit in the shelter again; it’s a constant worry that I had never felt in school before.”

— Mila, Student, Ukraine

Educators across Ukraine have also been forced to adapt. More than 480 miles from Odessa, in Volyn, one teacher uses her lessons to defend Ukrainian culture from forced Russian assimilation.

Ms. Chubok, 24, a Ukrainian language teacher in Volyn, Ukraine.

Her journey as a Ukrainian language teacher began after the full-scale invasion in 2022, which caused her to move back to her hometown from Kyiv. Since then, 24 year old, Ms. Chubok has worked daily, quietly protesting through teaching.

“What I do matters — in this way, I’m promoting something of our own, something native.”

— Ms. Chubok, Ukrainian Language Teacher, Ukraine

Ms. Chubok’s students come from all over the globe, with some previously learning Russian. However, after the war began, they made a conscious choice to learn Ukrainian to protest the recent cultural imperialism — the erasure of Ukrainian language, media, and identity — taking place in Eastern and Southern Ukraine. Ms. Chubok responded, saying, “To me, that decision shows that language is more than just grammar or a way to communicate — it’s about choosing what is yours and unique, not the language of the aggressor.”

Mila and Ms. Chubok are among countless Ukrainians striving to combat the uncertainty the war brings with learning, teaching, and conviction. Their stories prove that even amidst missile strikes and cultural erasure, resistance persists — education persists. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict wages on, it is our job — the youth — to amplify these voices and recognize the significant value of identity, education, and hope.

To learn more or support ongoing efforts to keep education alive in Ukraine, visit the SavED Foundation, an organization dedicated to restoring schools and learning opportunities in war-affected regions — or explore the Resource Hub under One of Many's Take Action tab for more ways to get involved.