Odesa

Maria Kotovych is an active student and young researcher from Ukraine.
She was born and raised in Ukraine, where from an early age she showed a deep interest in creativity, design, and social projects.
Maria has a strong passion for exploring Ukraine’s cultural heritage — its traditions, art, and architecture. She takes part in various educational and youth initiatives aimed at fostering creativity and preserving national identity.
In her work, Maria strives to inspire young people and engage them in creating positive change — through creative projects, grant initiatives, and ideas that shape a better, freer, and more conscious Ukraine of the future.

💬 About the values of freedom / “Ukrainian Students for Freedom”:

For Maria, freedom means the ability to think, create, and act without limitations while remaining responsible for one’s choices.
She believes that youth is the driving force of change in Ukraine, as it is the generation that grew up in an independent country and is capable of building a new culture of freedom.
For her, the values of freedom are not only about the right to be oneself but also about the power to change the world around — making it more conscious, open, and humane.

«“Freedom is about discovering and expressing yourself, meeting people who inspire you, exploring your inner depths, and creating with a passion for life. It is leaving your mark on the world, making it brighter and full of meaning.”»

Khrystyna is a student at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, majoring in International Economic Relations. She works as a Project Manager at Diia.Business Odesa, as a youth worker, and is a participant in the “Stipendiat” program.
She is a co-founder of Veritas Society UA and a project manager at the NGO “Hromada Zmin” (Community of Changes). Active in student government, she has experience volunteering at festivals. Her research publications focus on democratic mechanisms and the integration of Ukrainian refugees.
She is preparing to participate in the Erasmus+ program at Maynooth University (Ireland) for the Spring 2026 semester. She actively studies French and runs online speaking clubs in French and English.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

«Freedom is not only the right to choose, but also the responsibility for that choice. True freedom begins where we become aware of the consequences of our decisions and are ready to be accountable for them.»

Bohdan was born in 2005 in Odesa, Ukraine, and is currently studying at the Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology at Mechnikov Odesa National University. From an early age, he demonstrated a strong interest in the humanities and language studies, which he chose to make the focus of his future career. He has been working as a tutor for over a year and a half. In 2023, Bohdan became actively involved in volunteering and civic movement, contributing to various initiatives and projects in his homecity. He organized lectures on civic movements for students at Odesa universities, poetry evenings, and community clean-up events. In 2024, he joined Ukrainian Students for Freedom (USF) as an activist, took on the role of Head of the Odesa Chapter of the organisation, and now serves as a translator for the international of the organization.

Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.(Albert Camus)

Matvii is a student at the National University “Odesa Polytechnic”, where he entered in 2024 to study Computer Science. He was born and raised in Odesa, where he also completed his secondary education. Since high school, Matvii has been interested in economic theories, in particular the works of Ludwig von Mises, which led him to become acquainted with Ukrainian Students for Freedom.

Protected property and open markets are essential for economic development.

Yevheniy is an activist in the USF. He grew up in the picturesque city of Odesa, where he graduated from the lyceum. Since 2023, I have been studying at the Odesa Law Academy National University. Joined the libertarian movement in 2023, but followed the organization since 2022. Since the same year, he has been engaged in charity work and volunteering.

«Between freedom and happiness, I chose freedom». At the beginning of my development at USF, I found great truth in the fact that the main power is the youth and once again the youth. It sets and fulfills tasks, it will create the future, and it will change it. I believe that this is freedom — to feel what the soul desires, without worrying about someone else's opinion».

Andriy was born in 2002 in the city of Odesa, where he spent a happy childhood, although he was close to death several times. In Odesa, he went to school and later graduated, even though the teachers considered him a "bad boy". To the detriment of the above-mentioned teachers, Andrii passed the external examination well and entered the Odesa Law Academy on a budget to major in International Law. The guy never shied away from working, that's why he worked a lot, there's no point in listing all the jobs. Let's not only the constant desire for entrepreneurship, personal business, and tax avoidance. Andrii loved only women more than working, which again did not add to the rest.
From the first months of the full-scale invasion, together with his friends, he began to actively engage in volunteerism and charity in the direction of helping children from internally displaced families. For these purposes, he later started the youth organization "Dali Bude". In the fall of 2022, Andrii reads "Atlas Shrugged" and realizes that there is something in it. In the summer of 2023, he enters the Leadership Program of the Ukrainian Students for Freedom. Becomes an activist of the organization, a fighter for freedom and a free economy. In 2023, he will receive the title "Student Lawyer of the Year".
Andriy still lives today, combining his ardent love for football and literature, a love that he carried from childhood, when his mother forced him to read "Captain Grant's Children", and his father gave him a Shakhtar uniform and gave him to play football.

«There is a famous quote: «Ships are safer in harbor, but that's not what they were made for». Humans, too, may be safer under someone's supervision and care, but that's not what humans were made for».

Anton Izotov was born and raised in the city of Odessa, where he attended school until 2023. After completing school, he enrolled in the Odessa National Technological University, specializing in «Restaurant Business and Healthy Nutrition». For the past 2 years, he has been actively involved in volunteering with the «Second Front» Foundation. In February 2023, he first traveled to the Kherson region after its liberation to assist the civilian population living in the front-line villages and towns. Anton discovered a strong calling for volunteering and active civic engagement, participating in humanitarian activities and initiatives to support the local population and Ukrainian Armed Forces in the eastern direction. Currently, Anton is on a path of personal growth and self-discovery, and he made an important choice by joining the USF to have the organization guide him on the right path in life.

«For me, USF is a great opportunity to discover myself as a person. These opportunities come from freedom! When I first heard about USF I realized that the organization's values align with mine. Throughout my life, I've come to understand that youth and freedom are capable of making the world a better place».

Vitaly received a new secondary education at the Odessa State Music Lyceum named after Professor Pyotr Solomonovich Stolyarsky. Having completed six departments of the KZPSO "Art School No. 1 named after E.G. Gilels of Odessa (pop music, choir, brass, folk instruments, synthesizer, and piano).
There is a certificate about the after-school coverage from the famous group of the vocal-theatrical KPNZ "Odessa Municipal Palace of Children's and Youth Creativity" and a certificate about the after-school coverage to the sports ballroom dance ensemble "White Acacia." Holding two records of Ukraine: for participation in charitable, competitive, festival, and concert events (officially confirmed); Ukrainian record “The largest number of child volunteers. A nation of timeless ones!”, which is recorded in the National Register of Records of Ukraine.
Winner of the Grand Prix, Audience Award, 1st stage laureate of over 350 competitions and festivals in the following nominations: “Theatrical Creativity”, “Academic and Variety Vocal”, “Instrumental Genre: Guitar, Piano, Saxophone, Synthesizer”, “Artistic reading room", “Choreography”, “Original art”, “Dance”, “Ballroom dance”, “Step”. 5-time winner of the competition “STARS OF THE ALBION. Grand Prix 2019” 6th International Performing Arts Festival and Competition in England. Having taken part in performances and concerts of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, the Odessa Academic Theater of Musical Comedy, and the Odessa Regional Philharmonic, in famous television programs and reports.An active participant in concerts and educational events and programs, charity, and volunteer events in various regions. Two nominees for the annual (VI and VII) National Award “Children are the pride of Ukraine.” Since 2021, he has been a member of the All-Ukrainian Association of Variety Artists. Since 2022, he has been a member of the All-World Club of Youth Odessa residents. In 2023, was awarded the All-World Order of the Golden Star of Cultural Diplomacy. Learned about the USF from 2023 from a friend who was already a member of the organization.

«People who can become a bright ray of the future of our country are being trained at the USF».

Pavlo Oleksandrovich Chasnovsky. He was born into a family of deaf parents in 2002. He graduated from primary school in 2012, after which he went to study at the gymnasium until 2019. In 2019, I entered the specialty of law at the National University of Ukraine, where I am still studying for a master's degree. In the same year, he was baptized in the Church, promising God a good conscience.
In 2020, he decided to study at the Irpin Bible Seminary to become a sign language interpreter. Since 2019, he has been an active public figure and organizer of many educational and Christian large-scale events, including meetings, camps, festivals, conferences, and city-wide gatherings for young people. He visited many settlements to help others. I worked for a certain period at the «Heritage» BF and for more than a year I have been helping deaf families in Odesa with food kits. Like everyone else, I do volunteer work to support the military and vulnerable people. I have done a lot of good things, but also bad things, so there is still a lot of work ahead.

«USF shows the way to all the possibilities». 

Yelyzaveta was born in the picturesque port town of Izmail in the Odesa region. All her conscious life she was engaged in art. She participated in many exhibitions and graduated from art school with honors. During her school years, she was also involved in activism and wrote a report for the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In 2021, Yelyzaveta entered the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynskyi at the art and graphic faculty, specializing in decorative and applied arts. She believes that art cannot exist without a political context. As a student, she took part in Odesa exhibitions and became more interested in the ideas of libertarianism. In August 2023, she joined the Ukrainian Students for Freedom.

«The color of the nation — is what you can call the activists of the USF. This is an incredible community with infinitely talented and intelligent people who are united by the theme of freedom. These young people are fighting for the future of Ukraine, and it is an honor for me to be one of them, to go together side by side, for the ideas of freedom».

Pavlo was born and grew up in the city of Izmail, in the south of Odesa region. In 2020, he will enter the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, where he studies computer science. He got acquainted with the ideas of libertarianism at school, but rejected them, thinking that he was too young for it. But later, after learning about the USF and realizing that there are many people in Ukraine who share the values of freedom, he decided to join.

'USF is an organization that helps young people develop as individuals regardless of their professional direction. This is a large community of students who appreciate freedom and strive to change Ukraine for the better.'

Oleksii was born in 2001 in the city of Odesa. He started his active social activities in school, when at the age of 17 he was elected to the Youth Council of Odesa. In 2019, he entered the ONUA majoring in "Political Science" and is currently a 4th-year student. Serious and systematic violations of the rights and freedoms of students, which have long become a hallmark of this university, could not but infuriate Oleksiy and determined his desire to unite and build the student movement, which contributed to his establishment on the path of struggle for Freedom and Dignity. From this path, he is sure, he will never get off.

'Immediately, three of my best friends are part of this extended family, so my introduction to USF was inevitable. Back in September 2021, I joined the Odesa branch as a supporter and since then I dreamed of getting into the Leadership Program and becoming a full-fledged activist. USF seems to me to be the largest, most active and most united student movement in Ukraine and Eastern Europe in general, which defends the ideals of Freedom and Human Dignity. I am honored to be one of these people.'