Odessa
Кирило Димов
Odesa

Kyrylo was born in Odesa. In 2015 he entered the National University “Odesa Law Academy” at the Faculty of International Legal Relations, where he received a master’s degree in law in 2021. He is currently a 2nd-year PhD student in international law. He has about 16 publications on the law of armed conflicts, migration and constitutional law.

Since his school years he has been engaged in active social activities: charity and volunteer projects, educational events and protest actions, etc. Since 2017 he has been involved in providing free legal aid. From 2020 to 2022, he has been the Vice President for Professional Development of the European Law Students Association in Ukraine (ELSA Ukraine). Graduate of the Anti-Corruption School, organizer of many protest actions in Odesa, candidate for members of the Odessa City Council (2020). Founder of the “Second Front” volunteer staff, military volunteer.

Kyrylo became interested in the ideas of Freedom becoming a participant in the Student Model Congress in February 2020, and later in the Leadership Program. Since October 2021 he is the President of the NGO “Ukrainian Students for Freedom” and the organizer of several educational projects.

“We create history, we influence the processes, we force the authorities to listen to the youth. We fight and protect Freedom from the encroachments of external and internal enemies, because Freedom is one of the most valuable virtues that we have. We have the right to choose the place of study, we have the right to choose the music to listen to and the food to eat. We have the right to Ukrainian monuments, Ukrainian music and culture. We have the right to choose how to protect ourselves, how to treat ourselves and what cars to drive. We have the right to choose what to say and what to think.

And, most importantly, we have the right to choose how to live. This is Freedom. This is what we are fighting for.”

Kyrylo Dymov
Odesa

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».

 

Yevheniy Tykhonov
Odesa

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».

Andriy Mudrak
Odesa

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».

Anton Izotov
Odesa

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».

Vitaliy Nepomniaschchyi
Odesa

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». 

Pavlo Chasnovskyi
Odesa

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».

Yelyzaveta Kirmichieva
Павло Новицький
Odesa

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.’

Pavlo Novytskyi
Олексій Ященко
Odesa

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.’

Oleksii Yashchenko
Анастасія Лапановська
Odesa

Anastasia was born in the Ukrainian Venice – in the city of Vilkovo. From the age of two she lived with her parents in a small village Matroska, where she finished school. In the ninth grade, she joined the organization SOUP (Self-Organized Learning Space), where, together with other participants, she wrote her first environmental project.
After school, she entered the Izmail State University of Humanities, specialty 081 Law, weighed all the pros and cons in the third year and decided to transfer to another university, it was the Mechnikov Odesa National University. She is studying in the fourth year.
In the summer of 2022, her first Leadership Program took place, which began Anastasia’s path with the USF.

In my opinion, freedom is the most valuable thing a person has, it is a need, it is a tool. As Dzhokhar Dudayev said, “Freedom is too expensive to try to achieve it cheaply. It is better to die than to be unfree”.

Anastasia Lapanovska
Анна Березіна
Odesa

Anna was born and grew up in the ancient and picturesque city of Odesa.
In 2021, she graduated from basic general secondary education with an average score of 11.7 and from art school with honors.
This year, she graduates from the 11th grade and plans to enter the “Odesa National Academy of Music named after A.V. Nezhdanova”. Since high school, she actively participated in various projects: social actions aimed at revealing environmental problems of Odessa and popularizing working professions, volunteer projects, organization of educational events. In 2021, she defended the work of the National Academy of Sciences among schoolchildren in the field of “Law”. In the period from 2020 to 2021, she was the vice president of school self-government. Since 2021, she has been a member of the Youth Council of the Odesa District Council and the NGO “Youth Council of the Odesa Region”.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she became a volunteer from “SpivdiyaHab”.
And in 2022, she joined the NGO “Ukrainian Students for Freedom”.

” The idea of ​​freedom and equality has always been attractive to me. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said: “Freedom exists only for those who go somewhere”, we in the USF are not just walking, we are running towards a free Ukraine. For me, the USF is one big family that is getting bigger and stronger every year. It is thanks to this organization that young people are able to defend their freedom. The future of our country depends on us, we choose our path and our surrounding. I am happy to be a part of this community that divides my views and wishes. We dream that a new generation will be born in a free and independent country that develops and lives on, and we will do everything that depends on us for this. Freedom for me is the right to become better and be happy, and I will fight for it together with the USF!”

Anna Berezina
Леон Константінов
Odesa

Leo was born in Vylkovo, but lived most of his life in Odesa. He joined the volunteer and activist movement in 2017. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Student Council of Karpenko-Karyi University. He took an active part in several organizations (in particular, CO “Sunflower of Peace”, “Hurry Up! Ukraine”, VC “Expedition” and others) with a social direction, has implemented and working projects in various fields. He joined USF after the 2022 Leadership Program.

The formation of the young generation depends on such lively and active initiatives as the USF. When there are freedom fighters, when the idea of ​​freedom is heard thanks to people like the members of the USF. The value of freedoms and appreciation of rights should be disseminated and implemented through such projects that are implemented and can be implemented within the framework of this organization.

Leon Konstantinov
Анастасія Слободяник
Odesa

Anastasiia is from Rozdilna, Odesa Region. She was born and finished school there. In 2019, she entered the Leonid Yuzkov Khmelnytskyi University of Management and Law, majoring in International Law, which is extremely relevant today. From 2021, she is an expert at the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance. In the summer of 2022, Anastasiia joined the ranks of Ukrainian Students for Freedom, becoming an activist. She is passionate about reading and choreography.

For me, Ukrainian Students for Freedom is a case of a unique combination of diversity and unity. No matter how different we may be, but the key for us is the desire for Freedom and the understanding that Freedom is the most valuable thing a person can have. Everything else depends on it to a great extent. And also, here is a combination of wonderful people, and everyone is ready to share their experience with others.

Anastasia Slobodianyk
Юлія Щербина
Odesa

She was born and grew up in the picturesque village of Kozatske, Odesa region. In 2020, she graduated from the lyceum in the city of Bilgorod-Dnistrovskyi, after that she entered the National University “Odesa Law Academy” to major in law. She became an activist of the USF after the Leadership Program in 2022.

Freedom is a difficult and deep concept, for many it is undefined, USF – helps to understand freedom, and then to act – to fight for your freedom and the freedom of your country. This is a family united by one goal – the creation of a free society of prosperous Ukraine.

Yuliia Shcherbyna
Олена Тимофєєва
Odesa

Helen is an activist of the USF. She comes from the small village of Kozatske in Odesa. In 2020, after graduating from the eleventh grade, Helen entered the Faculty of Journalism, the State University of Intellectual Technologies and Communications in the city of Odesa. In the summer of 2022, she joined the Odesa branch of the USF after completing the Leadership Program.

“Freedom is the highest value. Each of us must popularize the idea of ​​freedom, fight for it and protect it. USF is inspiration, it is opportunities, it is a bunch of like-minded people who support and value you, USF is motivation and a fight for a bright future. USF – this is freedom.

Olena Tymofeeva
Тимофій Білокоз
Odesa

Tymofii is a member of the USS. Born in 2002, grew up and graduated from school in 2019. During this period, he was engaged in school and public activism. Since 2019, he has been studying at ONEU. He joined USS in 2022 after passing the selection for the PL. Engaged in student self-government and volunteering.

Taking responsibility for yourself is incredibly difficult. Taking responsibility for nation in difficult times is true madness. By passing the miles of development in small steps, the USS carries the ideas of freedom and love for its own people.

Tymofii Bilokoz
Микола Жмайло
Odesa

He was born in the city of Odesa, but lived in the region for 17 years of his life, later returning to his native port. He is studying at K. D. Ushinsky State University, where he is mastering the specialty of pedagogue-historian. Since 2019, he has been engaged in public activities in the field of local self-government and youth policy. During this time, he managed to head the youth council of his community, work in the educational youth organization “Improv”, where he was engaged in informal education. Joined the Ukrainian Students for Freedom during the 2022 Leadership Program, having learned about it from activists I knew.

‘Freedom is action. Only by active actions can we win our freedom in these difficult times for the Ukrainian state. USF is the community that carries the torch of Freedom in dark times.’

Mykola Zhmailo
Володимир Доценко
Odesa

Volodymyr is an activist, political scientist and just a good person. He grew up in Odessa, but it is not entirely clear where he was born. At the end of the ninth grade of school, he was faced with a choice: to develop spiritually, to carry the light of science into the darkness of ignorance, or to become useful to society. In 2018 he became an electrician. Then he changed his mind and in 2020 he entered the National University “Odesa Law Academy” in the direction of “Political Science”. Co-founder of the public organization Center for Political and Legal Studies.

«To me, freedom is not a suspicious abstraction from academic walls, but rather a practical principle for achieving happiness that rests on two pillars: tolerance and responsibility. The most successful societies are free societies, and they are not known for unity, but for diversity and tolerance of cultures and worldviews that are not destructive. And only in such a society does a person bear responsibility for his life, for the decisions he makes, he values the fruits of his labor and is responsible for the consequences of his actions for those around him. It was in the “Ukrainian Students for Freedom” that I found myself in full agreement with these beliefs. It was as if the “Ukrainian Students for Freedom” saying: «Do you like this future? Take it and do it! We’ll help you, just take it and do it!»»‎

Volodymyr Dotsenko
Сергій Щербина
Odesa

Serhii has been a mathematics teacher in the village of Didivshchyna, Kyiv Region, since September 2021. He teaches at the school for the program Teach for Ukraine. He was born in the Odesa region in the small village of Kozatske. Prior to his teaching career, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, worked as a developer in Odessa IT companies. A graduate of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy.

«Freedom is one of the greatest pleasures in this life. It is important to understand it, protect and not restrict others. It was in order to learn this even better that I joined the USF in 2021.»

Serhii Shcherbyna
Валерія Мізин
Odesa

Valeria was born and raised in Khmilnyk, Vinnytsia region. In 2019, due to her extraordinary love for the sea, she moved to Odessa, where she is currently studying at the ONU named after II Mechnikov in the field of “management”. She became interested in libertarianism during university lectures and decided in 2021 to join the Leadership Program.

«For me, USF is an association of proactive youth, the best of the best and the most effective way to change Ukraine, because students are the driving force. These are people you can rely on and go hand in hand with. It is both an informal community and an important activity.»

Valeria Mizyn
Денис Зейналов
Odesa

Denys grew up in the town of Rozdilna, Odesa region.
International political scientist, diplomat, expert on international relations, in particular, regarding the Middle East and the Caucasus, specialist in national and international security, coordinator of the Ukrainian Students for Freedom, volunteer of the Odesa regional organization of Ukrainian Red Cross Society, volunteer of the Rozdilna district branch of the branch of the State institution ‘Probation Center’ in Odesa region, volunteer-monitor of the Center for Civil Liberties, Public Monitoring Group ‘OZON’.

In February 2020, Denys was elected a congressman for the ‘Student Model of Congress’ project from the NGO ‘Ukrainian Students for Freedom’.
In August 2020, Denys completed the Leadership Program from the USF and became an activist of the USF.
Since 2020, he is a student of the ‘International Relations, Public Communications and Regional Studies’ specialty at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University.
From October 1, 2020 to October 25, 2021, he was the secretary of the Odesa branch of the Ukrainian Students for Freedom.
From October 9, 2020 to October 27, 2021, he was the head of the southern cross-region of the USF.
From August 23, 2021 to August 19, 2023 – a functionary of the USF.
From October 25, 2021 to October 1, 2022 – adviser on project activities of the Odesa branch of the USF.
From August 19, 2023 – the coordinator of the USF.

‘The freedom of a person as an individual and as an artist is, without a doubt, a high value that costs a lot. A healthy society understands, realizes the necessity and implements the “rules of free play”. At the same time, changes aimed at liberalizing society must be implemented carefully and gradually. Reforms have never been and will never be quick and easy. This is a complex and long-term process that requires us to be persistent and patient.’

Denys Zeinalov
Odesa

Artem Bakutin. Public activist and lawyer in the field of intellectual property law. In the public sector since 2020. Head of the Odesa branch of the NGO «Ukrainian Students for Freedom» from 2021 to 2023. Alma mater: National University «Odesa Law Academy» (2022). Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he has been engaging in volunteer activities and the protection of the Ukrainian language in southern Ukraine. Artem realized about 25 educational projects for young people in Odesa and other cities within the organization. Provides professional mentoring support to students and youth.

«The future belongs to the brave».

Artem Bakutin
Микола Франко
Odesa

Mykola is a USF activist. He grew up in Odesa, where he graduated from the Richelieu Lyceum, studying with the best teachers in his city. He was not a socially active person at school, but everything changed after the gap year that Kolya took after school. He became a student of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, where in 10 months he completely changed himself, his environment and his worldview. He became acquainted with the ideas of libertarianism at the ULA, and when he realized that these ideas were close, he applied to the Leadership Program 2021 at the suggestion of a friend. From 2021 to 2025, Mykola will receive a bachelor’s degree in IT and Business Analytics from the Ukrainian Catholic University.

For me, USF is not just about things like conventions, hikes and trips. USF is an opportunity to influence changes in Ukraine here and now, without waiting for the moment when everything will be decided for you. USF is a powerful tool of civil society, and as we know, society itself shapes and changes the state. I am happy to be among the people with whom I share values and ideas. I am happy not only to talk about the problems in Ukraine, but also to join in solving them. USF is a great opportunity for that.

Mykola Franko
Odessa

Daria is a 3rd year student at the Faculty of International legal relations, National University “Odessa Law Academy”. She takes active public position, contributes to the development of legal science, volunteering. She found out the great ideas of libertarianism when she learned about the concept of freedom and rule of law during her studies. That’s why she decided to be a member of the USF at the First All-Ukrainian Congress in August 2018.

Daria Onischuk
Аліна Ярощук
Odesa

Alina grew up in Kyiv, where she graduated from school. From 2016 to 2020 she studied at the National University “Odessa Law Academy” in the speciality 081 “Law” at the Faculty of International legal relations. At the university, she held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Faculty of the Student Scientific Society. In August 2020, Alina received the status of an activist of the NGO “Ukrainian Students for Freedom”. From October 2020 she has been doing an internship at a marketing school.

Ukrainian Students for Freedom is a place where you can feel free. These are the people who will become your mentors, friends, like-minded people or even colleagues. Being a part of USF is a clear guideline for your outlook. For me, USF is people with an active position who will fight for their will and interests to the end; people who are always passionate about new knowledge; people who are building the future now.

Alina Yaroshuk
Валерія Бучинська
Odesa

Valeriia was born in Odessa. When she was six years old, her family moved to Nerubaysk, and she finished school there. In 2018 Valeriia entered the Odessa National University and now is studying Ukrainian language and literature. In 2019 she was a volunteer and candidate to the parliament assistant of the political party “Holos”. Now she is engaged in educational language activities.Freedom includes many elements beginning with choosing clothes and finishing with important national questions. USF is an organisation which doesn’t ignore any aspects and take part in every event of our country. To exchange experience with other countries doesn’t mean to start the international process and USF is engaged in connection our national features with European. As long as we go this way – we are Free.

USF is an organisation that consists of people who discuss and argue because everyone has his/her own opinion and everyone has an aim to reach a consensus in order to reach a major goal. And I think it’s beautiful. USF embodies Freedom in every aspect, not bypassing the language, which is the sincerity and awareness of each element for the feeling of freedom.

Valeriya Buchynska