Tetian Hranchak, visiting assistant teaching professor in the Moynihan Institute, reflects on the impact of the war on her academic work and activism in an article published by the Scholars at Risk Network. Following is an excerpt:

First of all, the war demonstrated the urgency of the issues I was working on. Russia is waging a genocidal war, trying in every way to distort and erase information about the past of Ukrainians and Ukraine.

My research, which originally came from personal interest, converted into a means of countering the aggressor. I felt an extraordinary pressure of responsibility and the need to do more, including telling the world about what was happening and about the achievements and experiences of Ukrainians to safeguard against potential illusions and misinformation.

At the same time, on the eve of the invasion, I came across a lot of information in the media about the risks of the war. This included possible directions of attack, among which Kyiv—the city where I lived—was mentioned, as well as Russia’s plans to seize Kyiv within a week, and Russia’s preparation to destroy Ukrainian identity and Ukrainians who disagree with the concept of the “Russian world.”

The reality of the risks was evidenced by the evacuation of embassies in Kyiv as well as the loud threats of the Russian authorities. Frightened for my safety by the possible start of hostilities near Kyiv, and Russia acts of terror against Ukrainians, I made a decision to leave Kyiv and search for shelter in the U.S.

As a result, my entire previous life was wiped out. Along with losing my home, I lost both jobs and am now connected to Ukraine solely through my public work within the Ukrainian Library Association. The philosophical question “who am I” has acquired a practical meaning for me, as it has for many of my colleagues.