On the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine fallen in the struggle for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, memorial events were held at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, during which representatives of the many thousands of scientific and pedagogical staff and students honoured the immortal feat, the courage of those who defend our land at the cost of their lives every minute shedding blood and dying in the struggle for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our young European state. Representatives of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the patrol police also joined in the humble honouring of the heroes, sharing sorrowful moments with those present.
During the rally at the memorial plaques for the fallen defenders – a graduate of the Electromechanical Faculty, Dmytro Koriak, and a student of the Educational and Research Institute of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Land Management, Maksym Khitailov, the administration, academic staff as well as students honoured the memory of those who died in this terrible war with a Minute of Silence and laying flowers.
“It is difficult to describe in words the feelings that arise in everyone when we read the news feed, where the terrifying number of those killed in heavy battles is increasing every time. Poltava region was no exception, saying goodbye to its sons and daughters almost every day, who did not spare the most precious thing and are gaining such a dream of freedom for each of us, for the next generations of Ukrainians.
Today, Ukraine is going through the biggest test in recent history – an armed struggle against an aggressor country for independence and territorial integrity.
The modern russian-Ukrainian war has been going on since 2014. And today, August 29, we honour the memory of all fallen defenders of Ukraine who bravely won a heroic victory and gave their lives for the Ukrainian land!
While the war continues, we cannot know the exact number of dead, we cannot name everyone. But we must do everything possible so that the fallen heroes remain in our memory not as an abstract image or a number, but are properly honoured.
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” honours the memory of our defenders and we are proud to have our students, graduates, and employees in the cohort of unforgotten warriors of light. Their names are engraved in golden letters in our memory, engraved on memorial plaques, engraved in the Book of Memory of Poltava Polytechnic. Currently, university specialists are developing a renovation project for the memorial to the dead, which we will certainly open on the day of our Victory.
Today we express our sincere gratitude and respect to the graduate and student of our university – Dmytro Koriak and Maksym Khitailov, whose names are written in the Book of Memory of the Poltava Polytechnic. The memory of defenders and their exploits is almost the highest value on the scale of our national identity.
It is nice that today at our event there are pupils of the Centre for Education and Care of Preschool Children, who should know our history from an early age and remember everything that is happening today in order to give a proper assessment of the actions of the aggressor country.
Eternal tribute to our Heroes! Glory to Ukraine!” – stressed the rector of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko.
“Today we have truly united, as if in a family circle, around our common national problem. It is really gratifying that we are all here together no matter of different ages, different statuses, and educations, together with us is the bright future of our country – our little ones, in Ukrainian shirts, with bright dreams of their happy childhood, which the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine choose for them. At the same time, we also honour the valiant feats of representatives of the force block, representatives of the State Emergency Service, representatives of the National Police of Ukraine.
We have flowers in our hands today – sunflowers, roses, carnations. This is the materialization of our mutual memory, our shared values. Therefore, today, August 29, when we mark our Ukrainian national calendar with this mournful date, let us honour the memory of the defenders of Ukraine, let us approach the memorial plaques to Dmytro Koriak and Maksym Khitailov, and bow our heads to their bright memory.
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” honours the memory of our defenders and we are proud to have our students, graduates, and employees in the cohort of unforgotten warriors of light. Their names are engraved in golden letters in our memory, engraved on memorial plaques, engraved in the Book of Memory of the Poltava Polytechnic,” – said the head of the Centre for Culture and Student Creativity Hlib Kudriashov.
Representatives of the scientific and pedagogical as well as student team of the Poltava Polytechnic laid flowers at the memorial plaques of the fallen defenders, testifying deep respect for each soldier who gave his life in the fight against the russian aggressor.
After laying flowers, the rector of the university, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko met with the mother of the fallen defender, Tamara Oleksiivna Koriak.
“I don’t know how to describe the grief experienced by the mothers of the fallen defenders, for whom this is not just news – it is a heavy loss. I wish we could somehow share and ease this pain together. At least it is in our power to preserve the memory of their wonderful children.
After the memorial rally, on behalf of the entire team of the Poltava Polytechnic, I once again thanked the mothers for raising their sons to be true patriots of their native land, for the fact that their children won the present for us. I thank Tamara Oleksiivna Koriak for the fact that she comes to her son’s Alma mater from time to time, for informal communication. My respect to Vita Hryhorivna Khitailova, who was unable to join the memorial events at the university this year, but, like others, can count on my unconditional support.
We are together. United by common grief and common hopes. Heroes do not die, but live in our memories and hearts!” – commented the rector.
Every year, the fallen defender Dmytro Koriak is honored by laying flowers on the Alley of Glory in the city cemetery and at the memorial plaque, which was unveiled on July 15, 2015 on the facade of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”. The graduate is also honoured at the university on commemorative days. The President of Ukraine awarded Dmytro Koriak with the Order for Courage Third Class (posthumously), by the decision of the Poltava Regional Council he was granted the award “For Loyalty to the People of Ukraine” First Class (posthumously), awarded with the honorary badge “Mariupol. We stood up – we won” (posthumously). By Decision of the Myrhorod City Council of the Poltava Region No. 6 dated March 17, 2017, he was awarded the title “Honorary Citizen of the City of Myrhorod” (posthumously). Streets in the cities of Poltava and Karlivka are named in honor of the defender, as well as the Myrhorod specialized school of I-III levels No. 5 was named after him.
On August 25, 2020, a memorial plaque to student Maksym Khitailov was unveiled at National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi awarded the student Maksym Khitailov with the Order for Courage Third Class posthumously.
It should be recalled that on August 27-29, Poltava Polytechnic joined the all-Ukrainian campaign “Sunflower of Memory”.
Recently, the Polytechnic celebrated the National Flag Day of Ukraine with a patriotic rally, and the Polytechnic rector, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko congratulated everyone on the main state holiday.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
