As Ukraine continues its gruelling conflict with Russian-backed separatists, the graduation ceremony at a military school in western Ukraine marked a poignant milestone for 136 young cadets. Their futures now mapped out, they will either follow in the footsteps of their comrades to join frontline forces or pursue careers that leverage the skills honed during their rigorous training. For many, this marks not just the end of an educational chapter but a formal entry into the world of defence, with some set to join elite units.
The institution, which houses approximately 400 cadets from across the country, offers a unique blend of academic and military instruction. While its curriculum covers standard subjects such as mathematics, physics, English, and history, the daily routine is distinctly militarised. Cadets participate in drills, tactical exercises, and drone training, taught by both civilian teachers and military officers, transforming them from students into what the deputy head, Taras Hrytsevych, describes as 'warriors'.
Among the graduating class was 17-year-old Zakhar Yanov, who travelled 900km from Dnipro to attend the school. He is set to continue his military education at an academy in Odesa, expressing a clear sense of duty: 'It’s my duty to defend Ukraine. I want to join the airborne forces.'
This year also saw the graduation of Kateryna Sheremeta, 16, from the Volyn region, part of the first cohort of girls admitted to the school since 2024. Sheremeta, whose father and brothers have served in the military – with one brother killed in January – plans to attend the national academy of the state border guard service. She initially considered creative professions but realised her calling lay in defence after the invasion, stating, 'this is where I belong.'
The ceremony was a poignant moment for cadets and their families, with parents and friends lining the square as the graduates marched. After years of shared dormitories, classrooms, and early morning drills, these young people will now embark on diverse paths, some heading to military academies, others to universities or civilian careers, but all carrying indelible memories of their time together.