Nataliya Pratsovyta was working at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, teaching literature, when the Russian invasion began. Staff and students were recruited to the front line, while air raid sirens sounded overhead:

“When the war started, there were air raid sirens and we frequently had to go into shelters. It was terrifying.”

For Nataliya, her first priority was to keep her 15 year old daughter, Kateryna, safe, but she also wanted to continue to teach and help her students.

During the first weeks of the war, Nataliya, as many other instructors at the Ukrainian Catholic University held regular informal sessions, checking on students and offering some continuity in amongst the chaos.  

But reality hit. As the situation became ever more dangerous and unpredictable, she decided she had to leave Ukraine. Nataliya and her daughter first went to stay with relatives in Poland, before becoming aware of the Fellowship programme Warwick was offering. She applied and moved to the UK, joining the Department of English and Comparative Literature Studies.

“When I was looking for opportunities, I saw a Ukrainian flag on the Warwick website, encouraging Ukrainian scholars to apply for fellowships. I was very moved by this sign of support.”

Since then, she has continued her work supporting students in her homeland, supervising written assignments and meeting with them online. She’s pleased that this has allowed many students to be able to continue their studies.

In September of last year, Ukrainian universities moved back to in-person classes. Nataliya continues to tutor her Ukrainian students online from the UK.

“Resuming classes gave everyone a sense of commitment and a sense of purpose. Many students were very eager to resume duties, they were worried about their future, and it alleviated anxiety in many ways”.

Nataliya continues to support those students who can continue their studies, doing all she can to support her country’s war effort.

“Some of my students at the Ukrainian Catholic University are making camouflage nets for the military and others are countering pro-Russian propaganda. Others are translating news from Ukrainian into other languages to let the world know what’s going on. I am very proud of them.”

Nataliya remained in the UK over Christmas, staying with her host family in Leamington Spa and her daughter. Her husband Andriy remains in Ukraine, practising law.

She says they hope to return to Ukraine soon and believes her nation will ultimately be stronger and more united than ever in the long-term.

“It is hard for me to see how the Russian aggressors are destroying my beautiful country… but I am very grateful to our friends who are helping us. I certainly hope to keep my academic and friendly contacts with Warwick whatever the future holds.”

Nataliya came to the UK as a teaching fellow for Warwick, as part of the fellowship program for 10 Ukrainian academics.

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