MU Ukrainian student discusses winter in Ukraine and events at MU

Electricity and internet outages are a part of daily life for his parents and sister in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, said University of Missouri Ukrainian student Vlad Sazhen.

"It's kind of hard because of the Russian attacks," Sazhen said. "There are a lot of electricity outages. My parents regularly lose electricity for about three hours in Kyiv."

The weather is cold, but nothing his family and other Ukrainians can't endure, Sazhen said.

He spoke Wednesday in Gateway Residence Hall. His girlfriend, MU Ukrainian student Alina Rohulia, was studying for finals. Sazhen's last final was earlier Wednesday, he said.

"There is already a lot of snow," Sazhen said. "If it wasn't for the Western support, it would be much worse."

The West has provided effective anti-aircraft weapons that enable Ukraine to shoot down most of the incoming Russian rockets and missiles, Sazhen said.

"We clearly see how effective the weapons are," Sazhen said.

He referenced Tuesday's talk in Memorial Union by author Nicholas Davies. A video that preceded Davies' presentation suggested money being spent on weapons for Ukraine was being wasted with no accountability. It clearly continued to irk Sazhen. Sazhen and other audience members challenged what they said was Russian propaganda Davies was spreading.

As for the winter, Sazhen said Lithuania has provided Ukraine with generators.

"Winter is expected to be not that cold," Sazhen said. "Ukrainians would rather go through one hard winter than to live under Russian rule."

His family and other Ukrainians have warm winter clothes, he said.

How Ukrainian students are spending the holidays

He and Alina went to a friend's place in Kansas City for Thanksgiving. While there, they visited a nearby Amish community. It was a new experience, he said.

"I never before had a chance to meet and talk to Amish people," Sazhen said.

Their friend adopted a sheepadoodle puppy from the Amish, a combination sheepdog and poodle.

"Alina really liked him," Sazhen said of the dog. "She nearly cried when my friend adopted him."

In early January, they will travel to Los Angeles to spend time with a friend there.

"I really hope we'll go to Mount Wilson" where there's a famous telescope and observatory, Sazhen said. "Mount Wilson is the No. 1 priority for me."

Zelenskyy is Time's Person of the Year

Sazhen celebrated Time magazine naming Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy its Person of the Year. The Kremlin condemned the pick.

Even better was the inclusion of other Ukrainians on the front cover, Sazhen said. Among them is a paramedic from Mariupol known for helping children, and who was captured by Russians. She was released in a prisoner exchange. A famous Ukrainian chef also is included, he said.

"I was very glad to see other people on the front page, people who are making the fight," Sazhen said.

Personal connection to the wounded

For the first time, Sazhen said someone he knows personally was injured in the war. The man, who is in the military, was hit in the head by a rocket fragment but is expected to recover. His dad provided the information to him, he said.

"I'm just truly glad that he will be fine," Sazhen said.

Rohulia's family is doing well, he said. Her father is in the army, still stationed in their hometown of Kharkiv. Her mom is in Poltava.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815 1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: MU Ukrainian student's family is ready for winter, despite outages