On September 25, 2025, the respected American newspaper The Baltimore Sun published an article by journalist Josh Davis titled “A warzone education: Salisbury University helps Ukraine school hold classes.”. The story highlights the partnership between Sumy State University (SumDU) and Salisbury University (USA), showing how international collaboration helps Ukrainian students continue their studies even under front-line conditions.

While students at Salisbury University return to classrooms on the U.S. East Coast, their peers in northeastern Ukraine keep studying despite constant shelling. The partnership between the two universities opens new opportunities for students and faculty living and working only a few dozen kilometers from the front line.

The city of Sumy was among the first targets of the Russian invasion in 2022. Today, it lies just 20 kilometers from the active combat zone. In September 2024, April and August 2025, Russian missiles and drones destroyed several university buildings. Students often have to attend classes from bomb shelters or online.

“Sumy is a front-line city – just 30 km from the Russian border and 20 km from the front line, so shelling is a constant reality,” says Dr. Alla Krasulia, Head of the International Relations Office at Sumy State University. “We teach with one eye on the screen and the other on the air-raid alert app. And yet, life goes on. There are even morning traffic jams, restaurants are open, and people go to work. Despite the danger, the city lives.”

Currently, about 80% of SumDU’s classes are held online, with the remaining 20% conducted in person. New energy for academic development came from a cooperation agreement signed this summer between Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre and SumDU Rector Vasyl Karpusha. The document envisions joint online lectures, academic exchanges, and support for both faculty and students.

How It Started

The partnership was initiated by Prof. Yuriy Petrushenko, an economist from SumDU, who spent last year at Salisbury University as a Fulbright Scholar. During his time in the U.S., he worked closely with local schools, the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, and now heads the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science, and Sport.

“After Prof. Petrushenko returned, we supported his proposal to continue this connection – to open the doors to the world,” says Dr. Alla Krasulia. “Every September, we start a new academic year – even if drones interrupt the first day. This war has forced us to become digital, adaptive, and unbelievably resilient. It’s our daily reality – keeping education alive under fire.”

For SumDU, the memorandum between the two universities is far more than a formal document.

“For me personally, and for our university, this agreement is more than just a signature on paper. It’s a lifeline that shows we’re not isolated, that our voice is heard, and that our future remains global,” adds Dr. Krasulia.

Looking Ahead

Prof. Yurii Petrushenko sees tremendous potential in this collaboration – from the development of information technologies to post-war conflict resolution. During his stay in the U.S., he worked closely with the Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution.

“The war has brought many new challenges – not only destroyed buildings but also broken social bonds,” he explains. “We need to learn how to rebuild those connections and how to support each other.”

Prof. Brian Stiegler from Salisbury University adds that this cooperation is part of the university’s global engagement strategy:

“We can carry out joint virtual initiatives with SumDU and, in the future, help Ukrainian higher education recover. It’s a unique opportunity to be part of this process,” he notes.

For years, SumDU has practiced Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) – a model that proved invaluable during wartime, when face-to-face teaching is often impossible.

“Ukraine is not only about war,” emphasizes Dr. Krasulia. “It’s about students eager to learn, teachers and researchers striving to advance science, and communities dreaming of rebuilding. Supporting Ukrainian universities isn’t short-term aid – it’s an investment in Europe’s security and democracy. Every day, Ukrainians give their lives for European values.”

She concludes: “Every gesture of solidarity matters. When we’re given the opportunity to speak directly to the world, it reminds us that we’re not forgotten. And recovery – that’s what Ukrainians do best.”

Sumy State University remains one of Ukraine’s leading higher education institutions, continuing to expand international partnerships even amid war. Its collaboration with Salisbury University (USA) stands as a powerful example of resilience, innovation, and academic solidarity at a time when education in Ukraine literally survives through courage and determination.