Tetiana Kotelnykova | Source | Founder at Brave Generation

While international attention remains firmly focused on the military dimension of the war in Ukraine, it is crucial to recognize that Russia’s invasion is not merely an attempt to acquire new territory or redraw the map of Europe by force. The Kremlin also clearly aims to extinguish Ukrainian national identity, and sees the transformation of young Ukrainians into loyal Russians as a key element of this criminal endeavor.

What has been taken from them—us—is not just a language or a culture. It’s a shared identity, and a future we could have built together. I’m in mourning for all of this. But I also refuse to believe that our notion of who we are can simply cease to exist. Even if Ukrainian identity is suppressed, even if it is whispered rather than spoken aloud, its memory persists—in exile, in the margins, waiting to return.

The journey of bringing a social cause to life has been both rewarding and challenging. At Brave Generation, we want to transform the experience of young people, the survivors of war into something fruitful. The most rewarding thing for me is seeing how our initiative is making a real difference in people’s lives especially during the most heart-wrenching situations. When I see someone’s life taking a complete turn for the better, which is nothing close to what they imagined, I suppose that is one of the most fulfilling moments.