National Security Major Reflects on Meeting Ukrainian Senior Lieutenant and Combat Veteran

I recently had the chance to be among many fellow University of New Haven students who had the unique opportunity to meet and learn from Senior Lieutenant Mykola Melnyk, a veteran of the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade. I had learned about his visit from my National Security professor Dr. Olena Lennon, who facilitated Sr. Lt. Melnyk’s visit to campus.

During his meeting with students, Sr. Lt. Melnyk provided a powerful account of his long journey fighting for Ukraine’s democracy, beginning with Revolution of Dignity in 2013. Wearing helmets painted by loved ones, he and thousands of other protesters took to the streets for a better future. The protesters were met by the standard methods of oppression by Ukraine’s riot police.

Then, the nightmare of war came, and Mykola found himself among many in his country coming to its defense against the Russian invasion in 2014. A lawyer by training, Mykola joined the military and took part in fighting the Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

In February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mykola rejoined the military as a company commander in Ukraine’s famed 47th Mechanized Brigade. His story took the students from the defense of Kyiv and the locals who kept the soldiers fed to training with the American military in Germany and the counter-offensive of 2023, where Mykola would be wounded in combat. As a result of injuries sustained during a counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, Mykola lost a leg and underwent multiple surgeries.

For his brave service during the counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia, Sr. Lt. Melnyk earned the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, one of Ukraine’s highest awards for exceptional duty in the defense of Ukraine. With support from the Revived Soldiers Ukraine Foundation, Mykola traveled to the U.S., where he received a prosthetic leg and underwent comprehensive rehabilitation.

When asked about the day-to-day life of being a soldier, Mykola responded that during the day, you hoped to survive, and at night, you were thankful that you did. It was a lesson written by the Great War poets more than a century ago. The trenches are still “the hell where youth and laughter go.”

Sr. Lt. Melnyk also explained that although he wasn’t required to serve in the infantry, he believed no other position in the military would align as closely with the mission of liberating Ukrainian land from Russian invaders. He felt a strong obligation to take part in what he saw as the most dangerous yet most noble task—leading Ukrainian troops in a counteroffensive against Russian occupiers.

Sr. Lt. Melnyk took his time with the students, professors, and staff who stayed behind, posing for pictures, shaking hands, and answering more questions.

Students enrolled in Dr. Lennon’s “Introduction to National Security” course described their meeting with Sr. Lt. Melnyk as deeply motivating and impactful.

Nessy Cherazard ’26, a political science major, wrote, “Sr. Lt. Melnyk’s story of bravery and sacrifice while fighting in Ukraine was truly inspiring. His courage and resilience left a lasting impact on everyone in the room.”

Similarly, Alex Anderson ’28, a homeland security major, felt that meeting Sr. Lt. Melnyk offered an experience and insight that couldn’t be gained through the media alone. He said, “The media does not always show everything that goes on with the Russia and Ukraine war, so to have the opportunity to hear from a Ukrainian soldier who was on the front lines and hear his perspective on things was very educational for me.”

Temi Katemboh Nyundo ’28, an international affairs major, described the impact of meeting Sr. Lt. Melnyk as nothing short of life-changing. He said, “This talk has changed my opinion on the war, and on military affairs in general, forever.” Temi also noted that he was particularly inspired by Mykola’s ability to “make light of his circumstances and fortune in a humorous, authentic, and inspiring manner.” He added that the talk inspired him “to have a strong attitude in the face of adversity and to love world peace and humanity the same way Sr. Lt. Melnyk loves Ukraine.”

I also accompanied Mykola on his visit to the University’s Military and Veterans Center, directed by Ryan Noonan, where Mykola met with some of our student veterans. Our discussions covered the return of veterans, their care, and place in society.

In a story all too common to many veterans, it was a feeling of being set apart, longing for a sense of community and a return to some kind of normalcy. Sr. Lt. Melnyk expressed his admiration for the support American veterans receive, and, most importantly, the strong sense of community they’ve cultivated.

In a social media post following his visit, Lt. Melnyk remarked that the American veteran community seemed rooted in “the principles of self-respect, self-sufficiency, self-development, and service.” He expressed hope that the Ukrainian veteran community would continue to grow in a similar direction, guided by those same values. It was a reminder of the work that still needs to be done and the price that has been paid.

I was deeply moved by Sr. Lt. Melnyk’s personal story of courage and sacrifice. As a member of a veteran community and, more importantly, a fellow human being, I wish more could be done to help Sr. Lt. Melnyk and other Ukrainians fight off the Russian aggression and live peacefully on their land.

Christopher Rynich ’26 M.S. is a candidate in the University’s master’s degree program in National Security. He is a member of U.S. National Guard.