The inauguration of the “Unissted Diplomas” exhibition.
Of Salvatore Giuffrida
The broken dreams and broken lives of Ukrainian university students who died at the front or under the Russian bombs will not be lost. Their stories are exhibited in the exhibition “Unissted Diplomas” (Diplomas not delivered), organized by Julia Kozankevich, a Ukrainian student of psychology, and other students: from 1 August the exhibition has been hosted in the rooms of the Ukrainian Embassy at the Holy See. The date of the inauguration is not accidental: These are the days of the Jubilee of the young people who called almost a million pilgrim in Romethe. “In this way we can show all the values of freedom, responsibility and spirit of sacrifice even at the cost of one’s life,” he explains Julia Kozankevich22 years old. At his side, the Ukrainian ambassador Andrii Yurash.
“The Russians continue to kill, break lives, hopes, dreams.” The last attack is on Thursday 31 July: in Kiev the Russian missiles killed 31 people, including 5 children. “This exhibition is Ukraine’s voice in the whole world, and it is very important that it is exhibited during the young man’s jubilee, there are more than 2 thousand Ukrainian pilgrims in Rome,” concludes the ambassador. “Unissted Diplomas” has collected Forty stories that have been exhibited in more than 35 countries: the exhibition has been visited by over 16,500 people and has the personal support of the First Lady Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
Thanks to the exhibition these young people continue to live. This is the case of Ivan Rybytva, 19 years old, a physics student at the National University of Kiev: he loved skiing, swimming, he loved the hills of the Cerkassy region. He died on April 7, 2023 in Bakhmut, awarded the medal for courage. At his side Ostap Strait, 21 years old: he studied management, he loved playing chess. He died in action on June 2, 2023, in Vulehdar. A photo attracts the attention of many guys present at the exhibition: it is Olga Lysenko, long curly hair color honey and the smile of those who are 20 years old and a dream to chase. He studied economics and international relations at the University of Vinnytsia: he played the bandura, the traditional Ukrainian guitar, and his dream was to visit Egypt and the pyramids and then direct a hotel. She died on July 14, 2022 while returning home after a visit to the dentist: a Russian missile hit her on the street while running to reach the bunker. She died after a week of agony in sopedale.
The ambassador remembers Ivanna Obodzinska: “Her father Volodymyr lost all his family under his Russian bombs, his wife Natalia, his 19 -year -old children, Volodymyr of 14 and the one -year grandchild. We welcomed him to Rome, he was received by Pope Francis”. Ivan, Olga, Ivanna. These are the stories of an entire generation that is paying a very high price, but continues to fight to chase the dream of a free, independent and safe state. “The idea of this exhibition was born when a schoolmate of mine came from Poland in Ukraine to help her family but was killed,” explains Kozankevich. “We want to show that they are no longer with us but they are still among us. If you love someone or something we are also responsible for it “, concludes. And he cites Veronika Verkholioak, Kateryna Mudra, and other students who helped organize the exhibition. “You are our future, Russia is trying to take it away but it will not happen because it is strong, impossible to break”concludes the ambassador Andrii Yurash.
