Dear university community!

24 February 2026 marks four years since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion into. Ukraine. This event forever changed our lives, university, and the entire country.

For SumDU, these years have been a test of resilience, unity, and loyalty to our values. We met the war in a border town, amid explosions and alarms. The university has repeatedly been subjected to rocket and drone attacks: shock waves damaged buildings and shattered windows in classrooms and laboratories. But destroyed walls can be rebuilt while human lives cannot be brought back. Among those who died as a result of enemy aggression, there are students and graduates of Sumy State University. The bright memory of them will live forever in our hearts.

This date is about pain and loss. But at the same time, it is about our resilience. About students who continue to study in shelters and online amid air raid alarms. About teachers and scientists who, working on the border, achieve significant scientific results and win project competitions. About employees and students who are the first to arrive at the scene of damage after attacks to bring the university back to life as quickly as possible.

Over these four years, we have not lost the most important thing – our faith in Ukraine, in the Armed Forces, in our own strength and unity. We provide a full educational process, conduct research, volunteer, and support our defenders. SumDU has demonstrated not only academic but also civic resilience.

Personal responsibility becomes particularly important. The university is developing thanks to solidarity, professional ethics, and unconditional priority of SumDU interests. It is dignity in our actions and decisions, internal unity, and honesty that allow us to maintain strength, trust in each other, and move forward with confidence.

It is our duty to train a generation of professionals capable of recovering the country, strengthening its security, economy, and international authority. This is our responsibility to the state, to the memory of those who have died, and to the future.

Thank you for resilience and daily work. Thank you, dear defenders for opportunity to live, study, and work under the Ukrainian flag.

On this date, Ukraine is celebrating its second National Prayer Day – a day of spiritual unity and joint appeal for our soldiers, victory and peace. We believe that our shared thoughts and prayers will give strength to the country, our defenders, and every family on the path to a just peace and recovery.

Pray. Remember. Work. Achieve.

Sincerely,

Vasyl KARPUSHA (SumDU acting rector)