Plans progressing for Ukrainian student's girlfriend to join him as a student at Mizzou

Things are looking up for University of Missouri Ukrainian student Vlad Sazhen in his and the university's effort to help his girlfriend leave Ukraine and bring her here as an MU student.

His girlfriend, Alina Rohulia, is with her family in Poltava, where the town gets hit with occasional airstrikes from the Russian military.

"Alina hopefully will be coming here around Aug. 5,"  Sazhen said, speaking Thursday in Galena Residence Hall.

There are still some more steps to complete, he said.

"First she has to pass the visa interview," he said. That's scheduled for July 26.

University of Missouri Ukrainian student Vlad Sazhen and his girlfriend, Alina, pose for a photo.
University of Missouri Ukrainian student Vlad Sazhen and his girlfriend, Alina, pose for a photo.

The effort benefited from a donation, he said.

"Some foundation made a very generous donation to the Ukrainian fund" at MU, Sazhen said. "We will be able to cover Alina's ticket here."

He spoke of the Ukrainian Emergency Fund, set up by MU International Programs to help Ukrainian students at MU and those seeking to come here.

MU officials on Friday didn't provide the name of the donor or the donation amount, but those listed on a donor wall on the website included Tamra Redburn, Catherine Hurt, and Dr. Edwin and Nancy Morris.

The airline ticket was going to be a significant cost and it's a relief she won't have to pay for it, Sazhen said.

"It's very positive news," Sazhen said. "I was very glad the plane tickets could be covered."

Both already have received three-year, non-resident tuition scholarships. They will be classified as full-time, degree-seeking students. Sazhen is currently an exchange student, but his status at the university has been extended, allowing him to remain.

Previously: MU Ukrainian student's grandmother in Kharkiv concerned about constant shelling by Russia

MU exchange student Vlad Sazhen talks about the progress of bringing his girlfriend Alina to the United States and the continuing shelling of Ukraine by the Russian army.
MU exchange student Vlad Sazhen talks about the progress of bringing his girlfriend Alina to the United States and the continuing shelling of Ukraine by the Russian army.

Shopping mall attack

On Monday, a Russian missile strike on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk killed more than a dozen people and injured many more.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the airstrike as a terrorist attack. Group of Seven leaders at a meeting in Germany denounced it as a war crime.

"This was very tragic news," Sazhen said of the missile strike. "It's a big mall. More than 20 people died."

The 36-foot-long X-22 rocket that struck the mall caused its roof to collapse and melted the building's metal, he said.

Odesa apartment attack

Friday brought news of an airstrike on an apartment building in the port city of Odesa, killing at least 18, including children.

It's psychologically difficult to read and talk about the repeated attacks on civilians in his country, Sazhen wrote in a follow-up text message.

"We must not give up on putting even more pressure on Russia," Sazhen said. "Everyone in the world is now obliged to take at least some part in the destruction of this evil. Otherwise, if we let it be and give up on it, all the losses, pain and suffering will be for nothing."

Nothing will stop the Russians from continuing to kill civilians except full removal of their military forces and trials for those responsible, he said.

Russia leaves Snake Island

The Russian military has departed from Snake Island in the Black Sea, after the Ukrainian military caused significant losses to Russian forces there.

It's the location where at the beginning of the invasion, a Ukrainian officer responded to communication from a Russian warship demanding surrender with: "Russian warship, go (expletive) yourself."

"Snake Island is Ukrainian now," Sazhen said. "Russia had occupied the island."

He said Russia was describing the withdrawal from the island as a goodwill gesture.

Previously: MU Ukrainian student Vlad Sazhen's neighborhood in Kharkiv is attacked; family in Kyiv

Sweden, Finland to join NATO

Although Russia attacked Ukraine to prevent the possibility of it joining NATO, the  European military alliance this week invited Sweden and Finland to join.

"I'm very happy for Sweden and Finland," Sazhen said. "This is the right thing for them. I think this is definitely good."

Continued shelling in Kharkiv

"Kharkiv is being shelled very heavily every day," Sazhen said of his and his girlfriend's hometown near the Russian border.

His mom visited his grandmother for a day last week. The grandmother remained behind in Kharkiv as the rest of the family traveled first to Poltava, then Kyiv.

His mom could only stand being there one day and night, he said.

"Throughout the whole night, she heard explosions," Sazhen said about his mother.

After his mother left, a rocket fell on the street near his grandmother's house, causing a large crater. It's the closest strike yet to his grandmother, he said.

She's determined to stay, saying she will remain as long as she can walk and feed herself, he said.

Some rockets also are falling in Kyiv, he said.

Military help for Ukraine

Although American and European weapons are benefiting, Ukraine still needs fighter jets, Sazhen said.

"We're still very much in need of F-16s," Sazhen said. "Now is the time to start talking about providing Ukraine with jets."

Western countries have been unwilling to provide fighter jets to Ukraine, but Sazhen said countries need to stop fearing Russia.

Russian aggression

Somehow civilians keep dying in these Russian attacks on military targets, Sazhen said, using sarcasm.

The Russian people are being fooled by their leaders, he said.

"They're just like sheep," he said. "They blindly follow their leader. That's the way it's been through history. They've always needed a czar."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is following the example of past leaders in trying to establish an empire, he said.

"Russians are always trying to enslave Ukrainians," Sazhen said.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. 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: Donation may help reunite MU Ukrainian student with girlfriend