GRÓ GEST Fellow Daryna Zavhorodnia Featured in Morgunblaðið Interview
GRÓ GEST Fellow Daryna Zavhorodnia was recently interviewed by the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið, where she shared her personal experiences of living through the war in Ukraine and highlighted an international student-led initiative to honour those lost in the conflict.
Life under invasion: disruption, uncertainty and resilience
In the interview, Daryna reflects on her life as a university student in Kyiv when Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. She describes how daily life has since been marked by constant uncertainty, frequent air raid alerts and the psychological toll of living under prolonged threat. Despite these challenges, she continued her studies remotely and later pursued work as a researcher in Kyiv.
A central theme of the article is the contrast between the appearance of normality and the underlying fragility of life under sustained attacks. Daryna speaks candidly about how residents adapt to ongoing danger, often having to make difficult decisions about safety, rest and routine.
Commemorating lost futures: the Unissued Diplomas initiative
The interview also highlights Daryna’s involvement in the international exhibition Unissued Diplomas: Never Graduated, Forever Remembered, which commemorates Ukrainian students who lost their lives before completing their education. The project, initiated by Ukrainian students abroad, has grown into a global movement, with exhibitions held in over 40 countries. Through symbolic diplomas, photographs and personal stories, the exhibition seeks to humanise the consequences of war and emphasise the loss of future potential.
Continuing advocacy and amplifying student voices
Daryna is currently in Iceland as part of the GRÓ GEST programme at the University of Iceland, where she continues to raise awareness of the human impact of war and contribute to global dialogue on peace, equality and education.