On the 6th of December, in Armed Foces of Ukraine Day, students and lecturers of Ukrainian Philology Department visited wounded herous from the ATO zone at Main Military Clinical Hospital in Kyiv.

The lecturers and students came to see the heroes not empty-handed: they brought sweets, dairy produce, financial aid, and handmade talismans for the defenders. Nataliya Mamchur, a lecturer, made together with students in specialty Ukrainian Ethnography reeling dolls; Daria Kraynova, second year student made symbolic patriotic emblems, Olga Smeretska, fifth year student made a paining from buckwheat in patriotic style.

A good and real present for our heroes was a small concert of students. Their mood was raised by poems, songs and short humour stories. Soldiers saluted each student’s performance and they applauded. In the end the warriors thanked the lecturers and students for their present and attention to them.

The meeting with the heroes made the students to think over the meaning of their duty – to protect Homeland from enemy. These young people didn’t regret their own lives while defending Ukraine and protecting our future. “What amazed me most of all was that the soldier’s were smiling in spite of their pain and grief. We should support them, give them strength and faith. They are our heroes and defenders! I’m proud of such people!”, says Iryna Mota, student of group 48.

The meetings with hardly wounded warriors made a student of group 15, Alyona Mandzyuk, think over the notion of happiness. “Happiness, - she believes, - it’s when you see heroes in reality; you can express your gratitude face-to-face, you can look in their eyes and understand a lot of things. Happiness is to realize that you have minor problems; to know that most of people have brave and full of love heart. Our Ukrainian Philology Department family offered soldiers part of our warm heart and soul, so that the soldiers could get warmer in winter.

It was the second time that Yulia Soroka, student of group 36, visited the wounded warriors in the military hospital. She told us that you couldn’t stop tears appearing in eyes because of what you had seen. “Boys have told us difficult stories, after you understand that what you’ve watched in the TV is only a small part from terrible reality. I will remember each soldier smiling and positive, - Yulia shares her impressions, - To tell that we were amazed is to tell nothing. We were bewildered, fascinated and infatuated by their courage and heroism!”

Student of group 54, Anna Denysyuk noticed that the wounded soldiers were exhausted, but they didn’t lose their sense of humour. Young boys tried to find strength to make jokes, being rooted to bed or having no leg. “When we couldn’t restrain tears, men-heroes tried to encourage us by their good mood. Courage of these people can be an example for everyone!” – told us student of group 54, Iryna Bolshakova.

The students will always remember moments of meeting with open, spiritually powerful and always young boys. We hope that people understanding and moral support will be such operational means as effective medicine.