On 22 April, the Lviv Polytechnic Veteran Services launched a new tradition – a Prayer Breakfast – together with Lieutenant Colonel Kostiantyn Nazarov, Head of the Military Chaplaincy Service Sector of the Western Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and Junior Lieutenant of the Chaplaincy Service, Priest Volodymyr Rozkvas. Nataliia Shakhovska, the newly elected Rector of the University, Roman Korzh, Vice-Rector for Education and Social Development, Polytechnic students-veterans and student volunteers, veterans-partners of the Veteran Services, as well as representatives of the 125th separate territorial defence brigade attended the event.
First of all – a prayer
Military chaplain Volodymyr Rozkvas reminded the guests of the breakfast that Easter marks the victory of light over darkness, the good over evil, and wished us this victory in the war against the evil aggressor. He also said a prayer for our defenders, their families and peace in Ukraine and blessed Easter bread.
The participants of the breakfast observed a minute of silence in memory of the heroes who died defending Ukraine. Nataliia Shakhovska, the Rector of the University, assured the veterans present:
– We live thanks to you and I feel immensely proud to stand next to you, to thank you for every day you devoted to protecting all of us so that we could work in normal conditions. I really hope that this bright holiday of victory over death will help us defeat our enemy, end this terrible war and enable Ukraine to prosper, to be a free, independent and proud country that goes its own way, without having to ask for permission to develop in a certain direction.
Expectations from the University
The Prayer Breakfast was transformed into a round table where creative ideas were generated to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capability.
First, the veterans spoke about their expectations from Polytechnic. In particular, Andrii Barvinok, a representative of the 25th Training Centre of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, expressed his wish that the University would help military personnel who are mastering the weapons and military equipment of NATO countries to study English in depth.
Oleksandr Polishchuk, Chairman of the Board of the NGO «Participants of the Process of Defence of the Motherland», suggested that Polytechnic students who learn to fly drones could also be taught remote demining as well. After all, Ukraine is currently the most mined country in the world.
Yevhen Lukashchuk, founder of the public organization Be Strong, spoke about the need to assign student assistants to war veterans who would help demobilized people realize their opportunities, rights, guarantees, benefits, prepare documents, submit applications, etc. The head of the Veteran Services added that students could be volunteers during veterans’ sports competitions.
In the future – a Military Institute
– Starting from 1 September, a course of basic military training is being introduced at Lviv Polytechnic – said Roman Korzh, Vice-Rector for Education and Social Development.
The Rector of Lviv Polytechnic shared her plans:
– What we need to do first is basic military training for boys. Next, we need to involve girls. If there are developments regarding the implementation of an educational program in remote demining or any other proposals, we will join. I think that our University should have a separate Military Institute that would train various specialists in interdisciplinary programs: remote demining, UAV control and their automatic guidance, etc.
