On February 24, 2022, russia launched an open full-scale offensive against our country. The explosions we heard that morning in all parts of Ukraine are heard almost every day today. We can distinguish the sounds of flying shaheds, missiles and air defense systems. The sounds of explosions are known in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro, Lviv and Vinnytsia. We have no safe places in the country. The war continues.
This is a modern war. This is the first war in which the whole world is watching the movement of the front line in real time. This is the first war in which the advantage is provided by drones and technology, not tanks and artillery. And Kyiv Polytechnic is doing everything to help our soldiers with the most effective developments, engineering solutions, and equipment.
We have set a course for the development of the defense industry and are still pursuing it. The latest weapons for defense, mine clearance, prosthetics and rehabilitation are our most important priorities today.
Since the first days of the russian-Ukrainian war that began in 2014, more than three hundred Kyiv Polytechnic students and thousands of graduates of previous years have stood up to defend their homeland with arms in hand. Seventy-four of them sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine, five of them were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Eternal memory and honor to the Heroes.
We continue to hold on to our most important resource - our people. The Kyiv Polytechnic Charitable Foundation continues to arm Ukrainian soldiers.
At the same time, we do our best to make the educational process safe and effective. Thanks to the development of a network of shelters this semester, we have almost doubled the number of face-to-face classes: about 660 against 350 last semester. Pre-graduation internships at companies and institutions for fourth-year students will also be held in person. The total number of students enrolled in full-time education should reach about 10,000.
Two years of full-scale war, ten years since the beginning of russian aggression is a long period of difficult decisions, bitter losses, and painful changes. And we do not know how long this war will last. That is why we must be strong, flexible and professional, thinking as realistically and soberly as possible to end it as soon as possible.
Let's do our best to do our job and believe in our common victory.
Glory to Ukraine, glory to its defenders!
Rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Mykhailo Zgurovsky