On March 4, Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko and Head of the Information Department Yevhen Bondarenko met with students of the Irpin Lyceum of Innovative Technologies as part of the Lectorium project.

During the meeting with the lyceum students, a meaningful discussion took place on history, culture, and the contemporary challenges related to the temporary occupation of Crimea. Special attention was given to the preservation of national identity, the Indigenous peoples of Ukraine, human rights violations, Russian repression and persecution in the occupied territory, and the role of youth in the de-occupation process. The students shared their knowledge about the peninsula, expressed their vision of Crimea’s future as part of Ukraine, and discussed the impact of the occupation on the lives of Crimeans.

Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko spoke about the Mission’s work in the fields of human rights protection, information policy, and international cooperation. She emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory, particularly in the context of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people.

Particular attention was given to ongoing repression in Crimea. Students learned how residents of the peninsula face fines and persecution—even for reposting an interview with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—and how mass militarization and environmental destruction continue to escalate in the region. The discussion also covered Ukraine’s Unity Day and the significance of the human chain of unity, a symbol of the struggle for independence, and the events of February 26, 2014, when Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars gathered for a peaceful rally in support of Ukraine.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Olha Kuryshko urged young people to remember Crimea, explore its history, and seek the truth about the occupation, emphasizing that the future of the peninsula lies in a free Ukraine.