In response to a number of myths about western Ukrainians, shared by Russian-backed separatists in the east and fueled by Kremlin propaganda, the Lviv-based Ukrainian Catholic University has started an exchange program.
The program launched in late February has brought more than 1,000 students from Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mariupol, Odessa, Mykolaiv and other southeastern cities to Lviv for a weekend.
“The idea is not new but in February we thought this is just the right time to finally start doing it,” said Yulia Gnativ, the project coordinator at the Ukrainian Catholic University.
The young people come to Lviv for three days of sightseeing, meeting new people and hopefully making new friends.
However, Gnativ admitted, even organizers did not expect such a stir.
More than 15 Lviv hostels agreed to take in the students for free. Several restaurant networks and even some groceries contributed food for the guests.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy and city council members agreed to meet and dine with each group. City museums cancelled their entrance fees and guides volunteered to organize tours while students volunteered their time.
Many eastern Ukrainians were also excited about the prospect of visiting Lviv.
“Over 1,500 people sent applications within just two weeks, so we had to select participants,” Gantiv said. The program picked those who have never been to Lviv before.
Alyona Panfilova, 20, a public relations student from Donetsk Oblast’s Mariupol, said she had a lot of questions to ask, the first being: “Would you agree to join Poland if Poland would be interested in western Ukrainian territories?”
Panfilova found that “not a single person wanted to join other country,” and came away impressed with western Ukrainians as “real patriots.”
Lviv students also gained admiration of their eastern citizens.
“It is easy to be a patriot here, but try it there,” said Viktoria Dolaychuk, 18, a mathematics student from Lviv. “Even buying a ticket to Lviv is heroism now and we should understand that.”
Both Lviv and eastern Ukrainian students said stereotypes start falling at once.
“I am an easygoing person, but I was afraid I won’t be on the same wave with these people. I was mistaken, they are all nice and intelligent guys,” said Ivan Pykus, 22, a journalism student from Lviv.
Panfilova from Mariupol said they never encountered hostility when speaking Russian.
“It was everyone’s main fear, but people would just make us speak Russian even when we wanted to speak Ukrainian after finding out we are from the east,” she laughed.
All believe that these interpersonal connections will help to solve the country’s crisis.
“Many don’t trust the Ukrainian media, but when they know me they can trust me when I say that Ukraine’s west is safe, beautiful and welcoming place,” said Anastasia Perevershyna, 19, a psychology student from Kharkiv.
More than 150 students from Crimea and southern Ukraine are expected in the city on May 16-18, the program’s last weekend before summer break. “We do want to send students from Lviv to Ukraine’s east and south, we just want to wait till the situation calms down,” Gnativ said.
Eastern guests said he decision to go west wasn’t an easy one for them.
“We feared that a train could be seized on the way back and, I won’t lie, I now fight with relatives over the political situation all the time, but university colleagues mostly understand me and I believe they are the future of our land,” Panfilova said.
Kyiv Post staff writer Daryna Shevchenko can be reached at [email protected]
