War, Adaptation, Survival: Ukrainian Higher Education

The aftermath of the bombing of Ivan Puluj Ternopil National Technical University on June 6, 2025. Photo credit: Gyunduz Mamedov.

Much like most fundamental human rights, war and armed conflict are among the primary impediments to academic freedom. One of the regions of the world in which this can be clearly seen is Ukraine where the war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022 has resulted in immense damage not only to students, faculty, staff, and academic infrastructure at many universities, but has also produced major disruptions to scientific research and the entire higher education system.

Most recently, on July 7, 2025, Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University was hit by Russian drones as part of a larger attack against the city of Zaporizhzhia that injured at least 20 people. Although no deaths or injuries of students or staff were reported, the university’s press service stated that significant damage occurred at two university buildings as well as two dormitories. The same institution had also been targeted on May 1, 2025 in a similar Russian drone attack. Other Ukrainian universities have come been subject to Russian air strikes as well. On June 6, 2025, Russian planes bombed Ivan Puluj Ternopil National Technical University in the city of Ternopil. According to Scholars At Risk almost all of the university classrooms were destroyed in the strikes.

Unfortunately, Russian attacks have not only resulted in infrastructural devastation. On June 17, 2025, Russian strikes nearby the Kyiv Aviation Institute hit student dorms, leading to injuries among students according to the university’s rector. The exact number of injured is unclear. Earlier, on April 13, 2025, the conference center at Sumy State University was struck by Russian missiles as part of a wider offensive on the city of Sumy that killed 34 and injured more than 100. Among the dead were two Sumy State University students. In addition to killing students from the university, missile strikes also caused significant damage to the university’s campus.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Universities have been trying to adapt to the realities of war: some have relocated to Western cities, whereas others, even though they might be close to the front and under constant threat, have chosen to stay in place and attempt to continue education. Berdyansk State Pedagogical University has transitioned to a “university without walls” model that emphasizes people and connection rather than location, according to the Vice-Rector of the university, Yana Sychikova. After its original location came under Russian occupation, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University had to relocate. However, beyond merely holding online classes, the university has been organizing activities, labs, summer programs and more in different cities, collaborating with other higher education institutions across Ukraine for access to research and educational infrastructure.  While the war continues, it is virtually impossible to rebuild due to security concerns as well as a lack of money and resources, so the “university without walls” depends  on “mobility, horizontality, and community” rather than operating from a single location. This allows its students and faculty to maintain connection to the wider scientific community while not reducing the university only to a digital presence.

While Ukrainian higher education struggles with multiple immediate dangers, the impact of the war will likely not be limited to the short-term. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, around 4,000 educational facilities have been damaged or partially destroyed since the start of the war. Around 400 are estimated to be completely destroyed. While the precise damage on higher education institutions is not clear, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report stated that a total of “1443 buildings belonging to 177 universities and research centres were damaged or destroyed” by January 2024. This means that around one in five universities and around one in three research institutions in Ukraine had been damaged or destroyed by that time. According to UNESCO restoring this damage incurred by Ukrainian higher education will cost at least $1.26 billion.

Endangered Scholars Worldwide (ESW) condemns Russian military attacks against Ukraine and particularly against Ukrainian higher education institutions and we stand in solidarity with those in Ukraine who are attempting to maintain and defend higher education against all the many obstacles created  by  the unjustified  war. We call on the global community dedicated to upholding academic freedom to join with us in condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine.