Dnipro

Mykyta Petukhov — activist and leader of USS. He was born in Kamianske and grew up in Dnipro. He became actively involved in public life in 2022, working across various forms of self-governance from high school councils to city-level bodies, including the youth councils of Dnipro and Kamianske, especially following the outbreak of the full-scale war. He is a volunteer for the organization Caritas, providing systematic support to people affected by the war. Since 2023, he has been leading the editorial team of the online magazine Khorugva. He actively participated in events organized by the Dnipro branch of USS for Youth Day. After completing the USS Leadership Program in 2026, he officially joined the organization, continuing to advance civic engagement and leadership projects at the national level.

«For me, freedom is not just an idea, but a daily practice and a goal I pursue relentlessly. USS unites those who believe in the power of youth and liberty. Youth — because only the new generation, raised in an independent Ukraine, can truly change the country. Liberty — because it gives people the chance to create, take risks, and build their own lives without external constraints. I strive not to wait for happiness somewhere in the future, but to create it here and now. Freedom has always been at the heart of our nation, and I believe it will be the driving force behind our development and prosperity.»

Anna joined the USS in 2025 through the Leadership Program. Since then, she has been actively involved in the life of her Dnipro branch and in the organization’s activities as a whole. Here, she has found new ideas and opportunities for growth.

«For me, freedom is not just a slogan — it’s a way of thinking and living. It gives us the strength to act, to create, to make mistakes, and to start again. In this organization I found a community that isn’t afraid to take responsibility and proves that young people can be the driving force of change.»

Daria grew up in the lovely town of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region. She spent some time living in Dnipro, and after finishing the 9th grade decided to become an exceptional lawyer, as she has a very sharp tongue. This choice brought her to Poltava, where she went through a real school of life at the Poltava Professional College. Later, she enrolled at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Faculty of Prosecution). She joined the libertarian movement in 2025, driven primarily by curiosity. Curiosity is probably the key trait of her character, which helped her build an impressive résumé: serving as a director in ELSA; completing internships at the High Anti-Corruption Court, law firms, the прокуратура (prosecutor’s office), and public authorities; as well as participating in a Criminal Justice School and dozens of moot courts

«Life is much shorter than people think. Therefore, it is important not to bind yourself with imaginary chains. Act, be free, and do not be afraid to deviate from convention! That is the only way great things are born.»

Tamila was born and educated in Kryvyi Rih. With the beginning of the full-scale war, she became involved in volunteer work, striving to support the military and her local community. Since childhood, she has been passionate about art, history, and philosophy, and she graduated from an art school. She is the co-founder of several initiatives — including a project focused on the psycho-emotional support of teenagers, a youth media platform, and a school of non-formal education in Kryvyi Rih. She also organized an online marathon aimed at promoting volunteerism in the field of support for Ukrainian defenders.

In parallel, Tamila conducts academic research: she has explored the specifics of journalistic communication in Ukrainian news Telegram channels, the development of personality in Ukrainian literature (based on Valeriy Shevchuk’s novel “A Path in the Grass”), and the philosophical aspect of creativity during wartime in her paper “Creativity as a Cultural and Ontological Response to Social Challenges: The Experience of the Maidan and the Russo-Ukrainian War.”

In 2025, she joined the Ukrainian Students for Freedom community, as she shares its values — freedom, responsibility, and the development of an active civil society.

«For me, freedom means responsibility for one's own life and respect for the same responsibility in others. It does not guarantee ease, but offers something more important—the possibility of being honest with oneself».

Maria is a civic activist and a student at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, majoring in Software Engineering.
She grew up in the city of Dnipro, where she finished school. Her civic involvement began in the fall of 2022, when she joined a youth initiative focused on developing local communities and cultural projects. A year later, she also became part of the regional youth center, working as a designer in both organizations.
Later, she became one of the co-founders of a non-governmental organization that unites young people around cultural, educational, and social initiatives. Currently, she is involved in an organization that promotes civic activism, serving as an operations lead.
Maria joined USF in 2025. To be continued :)

«For me, freedom is not something you can simply declare — it’s something you have to live every day. It’s the choice to take responsibility, to create instead of waiting, and to stay true to yourself even when it’s easier to conform.»

In 2020, she enrolled at DDMU while simultaneously working as a copywriter. Before the full-scale invasion, her life was filled with studying and creativity. After it began, her focus shifted to volunteering and learning. From the very first days of the invasion, she joined one of her university’s departments and helped organize first aid training sessions. Shortly after, she started setting up collective fundraising accounts, attending rallies for prisoners of war, and actively collaborating with foundations as an SMM specialist, manager, and copywriter.

An opportunity for growth, self-improvement, and finding an inspiring community.

Kateryna Halchenko was born and currently resides in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region. She is studying Law at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. Kateryna is particularly interested in IT law and intellectual property law and actively participates in scientific and practical events. She was the captain of a moot court team.
Kateryna discovered USF through social media and started following the organization’s activities. Her first USF event was the Anti-Corruption Forum in Kyiv. Later, after attending the Youth Wartime Forum in Dnipro, she decided to join the organization by completing the Leadership Program. Kateryna is actively developing within USF, combining her professional growth with the fight for freedom and justice.

"Freedom is not just the right to choose but the responsibility to act. In *Ukrainian Students for Freedom*, we don't just talk about change; we create it by uniting young people ready to defend their values and build Ukraine's future."

Volodymyr is a USF activist. He was born and raised in Dnipro, where he completed his secondary education. Over the course of 11 years, he attended four different schools. During his school years, he was passionate about aviation and rocket modeling, which inspired him to pursue a related field of study. In 2023, Volodymyr enrolled at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, majoring in "Aerospace and Rocket Technology." In August 2024, he moved to Kyiv to live, work, grow, and, most importantly, contribute to making the country better. That same year, he became a USF activist and began working on a project in Kryvyi Rih.

For me, the USF is a place where I can meet people who share my political views or have differing opinions to engage in meaningful discussions. It’s also a community of individuals with whom I can have a great time.

Before getting acquainted with the organization, I didn’t know much about libertarianism. However, after learning more about this concept, I realized that my views fully align with libertarian principles.

I have always consistently supported and will continue to support freedom, rights, and equality. It doesn’t matter how I personally define freedom because freedom itself is the ability to interpret it however one wishes. At the moment, Ukraine faces significant issues with rights and freedoms, and as a citizen who wants to live in a free country, I feel I have no choice but to directly influence the state. I aim to do so through civic organizations, activists, volunteers, and other initiatives.

Yehor - a public activist, software engineer, trader, blogger

Dediacated to freedom, ready to action.

Olya is a USF activist. She grew up in Dnipropetrovsk region. In 2021, she graduated from the Samara Lyceum with a silver medal. Then she entered V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and moved to Kharkiv. After the start of a full-scale invasion, she was forced to return to her native town. Olya is currently studying international logistics and customs affairs as part of the "International Economic Relations" major. Looking for an active patriotic community, in the summer of 2024 Olya joined USF, having passed the Leadership Program. Thanks to USF, Olya realized how important the values ​​of freedom are to her.

NGO "Ukrainian Students for Freedom" unites very different personalities, who at the same time are very similar - everyone has the fire of freedom burning in their eyes. This is a community of people who are ready not just to talk about freedom, but to act. USF is the future of a free, developed Ukraine.

Karyna. Dnipro is her hometown. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in the specialty «Journalism» at the Dnipro National University named after Oles Honchar. Journalist, public figure and volunteer. She is professionally interested in coffee, music and drone control. From December 2023 to April 2025, she was an activist of the public movement «Groshi na ZSU. Dnipro», initiating together with the citizens of Dnipro hearings on the city ​​budget for 2025 and the protest «Demokratiya u kaydankakh». Participated in internships in media programs, including at the project «Khab media mobilnosti» in Kyiv. Already in March 2024, she visited the forum of the Dnipro branch of the Ukrainian organization «Ukrainian Students for Freedom» — «Youth Wartime Forum». Thanks to this event, she became part of the community. Also, since 2024, she works in the Dnipro independent media «Dnipro.media».

«Freedom is a value that needs to be nurtured more and more with real actions. In fact, freedom and the people, who take responsibility to stand for it, are the foundation of our country, on which Ukrainians will win the war, and then restore and build a happy, free and truly independent Ukraine, achieving a desired justice.
Ukrainian Students for Freedom unites exactly such people who demonstrate their freedom every day, stand for it, and will reach the truth. And this happens in various areas: from promoting free ideas at events in front of the same youth, participation in public politics, to civic activities, volunteering and military service for Ukraine. Now, in November 2025, we must direct most of our resources to supporting the military, and after victory, to rebuilding the country, as well as strengthening and developing our economy, politics and other social spheres.»

What Ukrainian Students for Freedom are doing strengthens my faith in a better future, in a country torn apart by factionalism and nepotism, war and violence, a principled group of young people boldly stands for freedom and the rule of law, for prosperity and free exchange, and limited state as the basis of voluntary and peaceful cooperation.