Belén Yudess ’25
Copy Editor
Since Feb. 24, 2022, Ukrainian students at the 5C’s have demonstrated the power of collective memory and the formidable nature of an indestructible spirit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, Ukrainian students have banded together to mourn, memorialize, and mobilize against the erasure of their culture, language, and home. Over the years, the Ukrainian Student Group has organized student panels, speaker series, conferences, and vigils to keep the student body informed and in-community with those impacted by the war.
On Feb. 24, the Ukrainian Club, led by Marina Shishkina ’25 and Ivan Dudiak HMC ’26, hosted a vigil to commemorate three years since the beginning of the war, which also featured a talk by Shishkina who shared a moving narrative about her experiences during the war and her connection to Ukraine.
“When I was 16, chasing the American dream, my mom and I moved to New York City so I could attend art school, pursue my passion, and ultimately end up at Scripps College,” said Shishkina in her opening statement. “Then COVID hit, and I had made a decision that changed really everything. I had decided to return to Ukraine (…) I decided to return to the place I was born, but had never truly known.”
Shishkina reflected on her participation in a startup called Shadows following her return to Ukraine. The startup aimed to educate and raise awareness on Ukrainian traditions and customs. It was through this project that Shishkina developed a deeper appreciation for the Ukrainian language and its symbol as an act of resistance.
“Language is political; like many in Kyiv, I had grown up speaking Russian, a lasting imprint of imperial control that has suppressed Ukrainian language and culture for centuries,” she said. “Today, speaking Ukrainian is more than just communication. It is an active protest. It is about breaking free from the erasure of Ukrainian theater, literature, tradition, poetry.”
Shishkina has continued this legacy during her time in Claremont, most notably through her curation of RAW, which was a mobile exhibit during the summer of 2022 that highlighted Ukrainian artists and ran through Shishkina’s non-profit Ukraine on the West Coast.
Although this project has successfully amplified the voices and creativity of Ukrainian folks throughout several communities, Shishkina points out that the true impacts of the war on Ukrainians is an all-encompassing force that cannot be truly depicted or conceived.
“War is not just something I have gotten to witness firsthand, it is something that has shaped the way I act, think, feel, and navigate the world,” she said. “War lingers in the mind, it lingers in the ‘where are you from’ questions – such a simple question asked in classrooms, parties, and conversations – but for me, it comes with pause, heaviness, and responsibility. A responsibility to those who can’t advocate for Ukraine internationally, to my friends and family who have gone missing, been injured, or passed away. It is a duty I cannot escape living and breathing in Claremont.”
Shishkina shifted to recapping her past summer spent living in Ukraine and volunteering with various aid programs throughout Kyiv. These daily tasks included construction work, cleaning debris from affected areas, organizing teams, translating, and offering emotional and physical support to community members. All the while, operating amidst 16 hour power outages, limited electrical resources, ongoing missile attacks, and harsh environmental conditions.
Although each day presented inconceivable challenges, there is one memory in particular that Shishkina recounts as, “one of the most harrowing experiences,” of her summer.
“On July 8 the Children’s Hospital, Ukraine’s largest pediatric hospital, was targeted,” she said. “At least 42 civilians, including five children, died and over 90 injured. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, at least 736 medical facilities in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. That same day, multiple residential buildings were also hit. My friend lost his home. The attack that day prompted widespread evacuation for about 32,000 residents.”
Following this attack, Shishkina immediately rallied with her community in Ukraine and abroad to raise $2,500. This initiative speaks to Shishkina’s whole-hearted embodiment of what she dubs ‘Ukrainian qualities.’
“My friends always tell me, Marina, if you say you’ll get something done, I have not a single doubt you will, and I always smile because I know that isn’t really my quality, it’s a Ukrainian quality,” she said. “It is who we are, relentless and resilient. Ukrainians don’t just endure, they rebuild, adapt, and fight. For centuries, the world overlooked our fight, and still we didn’t break then and we don’t break now. I know no other nation so dedicated to rebuilding and reshaping its future.”
As Ukraine continues to tirelessly fight for its sovereignty and push back against Russian forces, Shishkina noted how the war is not limited to the battlefield but is largely determined by global politics.
“Every small move made in a boardroom has great consequences on the ground; that is why the past two weeks, specifically, the reckless rhetoric from Trump’s office cannot be ignored,” she said. “In forty eight hours, Trump and his team have shattered America’s standing in negotiations with Russia, endangering Ukraine and Europe.”
On Feb. 12, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced during a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting that Ukraine’s bid for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership and the expectation that Ukrainian land be returned to its pre-2014 borders were unrealistic.
“This already was a very tough pill to swallow for many Ukrainians,” said Shishkina.
Informed by Ukrainian journalist, Anastasiia Lapatina’s, perspective on Hegseth’s statement, Shishkina pointed out that, “just like that, in one speech, Hegseth seemed to give away much of American leverage, spreading panic around Ukraine and the rest of Europe, as well as rewarding the Kremlin with a huge win.”
Shishkina further explained how Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskzy’s, reaction to this news honed in on the drastic implications of the Donald Trump administration’s collaboration with Russian president, Vladimir Putin, regarding forthcoming negotiations about the future of Ukraine.
“In an interview hours before the Trump-Putin call, Zelensky told the economists, imagine that Hitler was not destroyed, imagine that after everything he did to the Jews, people said, okay, let’s look for a compromise,” she said. “No one understands what war is until it comes to your home (…) The fate of Ukraine is not just about one nation, it is an international fight for sovereignty and human rights. Seeking compromise with an aggressor does not bring peace. It invites forgiveness without justice, allowing atrocities of war to be repeated. War is ongoing, evolving, and changing every minute. New developments shape the front line, perception, action, international response, and therefore, the lives of my people.”
Although thinking about the current socio-political status surrounding Ukraine and other U.S foreign relations may be unsettling, Shishkina voices the need to remain cognizant of these events in order to help shape a more equitable and liberated future.
“It is important for me to share the story of Ukraine because it is not just about Ukraine,” she said. “It reflects the reality of many people living through war, tragedy, and ongoing struggle. Surrounding Claremont, there are communities that also need attention from 5C students. My fight is with Ukraine because it is where I am from, it is where my heart is. What matters most is recognizing that change begins with awareness of your local community. That kind of responsibility is the foundation of the leadership I hope to see more of around me. Ultimately, it is the key to justice, equality, and reform in today’s political world.”
Photo Courtesy of Belén Yudess ’25
