Chernivtsi

Kateryna is an activist at USS. She comes from the city of Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast, where she completed school. Since 2023, she has been studying at Bukovinian State Medical University in Chernivtsi, majoring in "Medical Psychology", and is currently a third-year student.
In July 2025, she joined the "Ukrainian Medical Students' Association", where she works within the SCOPH (Standing Committee on Public Health). After participating in the Leadership Program in Medzhybizh in August 2025, she became a member of USS, continuing to develop initiatives in public health and youth activism.

«For me, freedom is not an abstract idea but a daily choice and an inner drive to act. At Ukrainian Students for Freedom, we focus on giving young people the tools to transform the country, because it is the generation raised in an independent Ukraine that has the power to shape its future. And we choose freedom because history shows time and time again: where freedom exists, opportunities, prosperity, and development follow. I’m not looking for easy solutions or a better life somewhere abroad — I want to build it here, together with those who believe in responsibility, dignity, and the strength of a free individual. Freedom, the deepest value of our nation, is the foundation on which our future prosperity can grow.»

Maksym – USF's activist. He was born and raised in Chernivtsi, where he studied at Chernivtsi Lyceum No. 10 of the Chernivtsi City Council. He was president of his school, where his civic activism began. In 2024, he became interested in youth politics and tried his hand at being an activist in the regional youth council. In May 2025, he became the head of the education and culture committee of the Youth Council at the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration. He joined the USR after attending the "Schumpeter Day" event, which sparked his interest in economics.

«I believe in the words of Semen Oblomey – "my fire is your fire." For me, the USF is an environment for my development and learning about the ideas of freedom and democratic society by comparing my views with others. We are united not by yellow T-shirts, but by how we feel about our country and how we definitely do not see its future.»

Victoria Chernysheva was born and raised in the city of Dnipro. In 2024, she enrolled at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, majoring in International Law. Choosing this field was not only an academic decision for her but also a conscious step toward understanding global processes and the value of freedom and its role in them, which led her to become interested in libertarian ideas.

During her studies, Victoria joined the European Law Students’ Association — ELSA Chernivtsi, where she later assumed the position of Vice President for Seminars and Conferences. She actively combines her studies with civic engagement and believes that youth have the power to change society — through initiative, education, and conscious action in support of freedom and development.

«“Freedom is not merely the right to choose, but also the responsibility for the world shaped by one’s choices.”»

Dmytro Yurtseniuk received complete general secondary education, finishing 11 grades. His musical education began early: in the 8th grade, he successfully graduated from music school, specializing in guitar, and actively participated in the choir and played in the orchestra. While studying at music school, Dmytro also successfully represented it at regional competitions, where he consistently took third place four times in a row.
After finishing school, Dmytro entered a railway college, which he graduated from with a Red Diploma (Honours) with a specialization in "Locomotive Driver's Assistant and Rolling Stock Repair Locksmith." He was an active and responsible student: he received an enhanced scholarship and served as the group's head (starosta). Among other activities, he participated in sports competitions, where he once took a prize-winning place in chess.
Subsequently, Dmytro continued his studies at the Chernivtsi Polytechnic Professional College. He enrolled in Software Engineering but studied for only one year. Given the need for a more practical and physically tangible field, he transferred to Radio Engineering. This major, which includes working with drawings, circuit design, and physical models, proved to be more understandable and achievable for him.
He learned about the organization "Ukrainian Students for Freedom" (USS), which promotes the ideas of a free society, coincidentally while participating in the Leadership Program in 2025. There he found a community of like-minded individuals from all over Ukraine who share a common worldview, the desire to improve the country, and the fundamental value of Freedom. Participation in the Leadership Program provided an opportunity to improve leadership skills and gain thorough knowledge of economics, political science, and entrepreneurship. This experience became especially valuable because, given his more technical background, Dmytro seeks to address knowledge gaps in fields he is less familiar with. He highly values the new impressions, the experience gained, and the supportive community, which inspires him to further active involvement.

«We have already paid the highest price for the right to be free. Freedom is a hard-won legacy, not an expectation. Our task, as a society, is to realize this price and not allow indifference to devalue it. USS is the driving force behind this realization»

Konstantin was born in Dnipropetrovsk region, where he graduated from school. Since 2023 he has been studying in Chernivtsi, at the Bukovina State Medical University, majoring in "medicine". He joined the libertarian society in 2025. An active member of the student organization "UMSA", and the founder of many projects

«USS are people. The idea of ​​freedom, for me, is what we are fighting for right now, because freedom is not born with or found, it is fought for. As for my like-minded people from USS, freedom is an end in itself and the most intoxicating of wines»

Valeriia has been an active child since birth, so her parents decided to enroll her in every possible extracurricular activity available in their city. That’s how she graduated from a music school (she can both play a tune on the piano and perform something on the bandura), spent eight years dancing, and dedicated over ten years to the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Thanks to this, in 2022, she became a bronze medalist at the Genius Olympiad Ukraine.

At the same time, she was developing her acting skills and even dreamed of devoting her whole life to this craft — but that gestalt remains open.

In 2024, she entered Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, majoring in International Law, and moved to Chernivtsi. From the very first days of studying, she joined ELSA Chernivtsi, where she is now the Director for Internal Management and an Events Assistant in the National Board. She has also been part of the cultural department of the Student Parliament.

The year 2025 became a special one for her — that’s when she joined the Ukrainian Students for Freedom community, completed the leadership program, and began her path as an activist.

«Freedom is when no one tells you how to breathe, what to think, or where to go tomorrow. It’s the moment when you alone are responsible for your choices, your mistakes, and your victories.“Human is condemned to be free,” because even when we choose nothing, we still choose that very “nothing.” That’s why we hold on to freedom so tightly — because only when we are free do we truly live, not merely exist».

Bohdan was born and raised in Chernivtsi, where he graduated from 9th grade. In 2021-2023, he studied at the College of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, majoring in Computer Science, where he took an active part in various competitions and led an active student life. Currently, Bohdan is studying at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, majoring in the same field. He joined the USF in 2024.

A sword that can’t be wielded is nothing more than an ornament. Freedom that cannot be used is the same.

Illia is 18 years old, born and raised in Chernivtsi. He graduated from Lyceum 1 (Physics and Mathematics) with a degree in IT. He is studying at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, majoring in social security. He became a supporter of the organization in early 2022. Illia is involved in various public affairs: from projects in the city council to infrastructure in the city.

«Freedom is never easy - you have to fight for it all the time».

Mariana is an activist of the USS. She was born and grew up in the picturesque village of Stari Kuty, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. She also graduated from school there, where she was the head of the TEMP student government from 2018 to 2019. In 2019, she started studying at the Yurii Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University, majoring in «Secondary Education (Biology and Human Health)», because she cannot imagine her life without inquisitive students and the opportunity to share knowledge with them. In 2023, she will receive the long-awaited bachelor's degree and continue to obtain a master's degree in the same specialty. One evening, she asked if there were plans for summer hikes in the mountains, and ended up on the 2023 Leadership Program in Medzhibozh. This is how her love for the bright yellow color and USF began.

«Freedom is not being afraid to be loud, defending your values and ideas. That's why I'm here to shout to everyone about our highest value, about Freedom!»

Oleksii has been a member of the USF since 2023, an activist. He was born and raised in Zatsavna, Chernivtsi region, where he finished school. Since 2021, he has been majoring in mathematics at Chernivtsi National University. He has been interested in philosophy, sociology, and political science since age 13. He got acquainted with libertarianism at the age of 15. At the age of 17, after winning a prize in the all-Ukrainian business tournament 'Company Strategy', he adopted many of the postulates of libertarianism into his worldview and found his purpose. For some time, he was a member of AIESEC, whose principles he did not like. He became acquainted with the USF in 2022.

'For me, USF are a living community of like-minded people from all over the country, united by many common ideas, and at the same time they are a super-organism that acts as a single entity and a multitude of individuals with their own worldview and goals. This is where freedom manifests itself: we are here not by order, but by our own will, the will to change, and this is freedom, the ability to fight. This is the only way young people in our imperfect state can change something, starting with themselves.'

Maria - became an activist of the USF in 2022.  She was born in the city of Chernivtsi, and later she moved with her family to a village in the Chernivtsi region.  Even in her school years, she positioned herself as a creative person, in particular, she loved to draw.  In 2018, she graduated from an art school, and a year later - the 11th grade.  Also, in 2019, she entered the Chernivtsi National University named after Yuriy Fedkovich, majoring in International Law.  Maria didn’t like to sit aloof from all the events and decided to prove herself in the student parliament of the Faculty of Law.She has been a member for the 4th year.  During this time, she took an active part in the life of her faculty, was one of the organizers of various events, for example: «||  of the All-Ukrainian School of Young Politicians», and also began to engage in volunteering.  In 2021, she became a deputy of the Youth Council at the Boyan Territorial Community, and later an activist of the Youth Council of Bukovyna.  After the full-scale invasion, she volunteered at the central humanitarian headquarters of the Chernivtsi region for almost six months.

'USF is the flame of Freedom that lives in each of us. These are goals, the goal of self-realization and the desire for change, both in relation to yourself and in relation to everything that surrounds you. This is a free space that gathers around people who are charged with the rays of Freedom, who know exactly what they want from life and aim to go to the very end.'

Katya is an activist of the USF. She was born in the village of Mamaivtsi, Chernivtsi district, where she graduated from school. She is studying at Chernivtsi National University, majoring in "Social Work". She studies Web design and SMM and plans to develop and work in this field. Katya is interested in history, sociology, and art. Katya joined the Ukrainian Students for Freedom after completing the Leadership Program 2022 and became part of the Chernivtsi branch.

'USF provides great opportunities and valuable lessons for those who need them. Here you will find friends who will help at any time and weather conditions.'