Two servicemen – Heroes from the UCU community who died defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion – were included in the “List That Shouldn’t Exist” by Forbes Ukraine. They could have appeared in the “30 Under 30” list, but Russia took from them not only the chance for nomination, but also their lives. The reference is to Mykola Hayevoy, a graduate student and PhD candidate in History at UCU, and Illia Pidhaynyi, a graduate of UCU’s School of Law.

Mykola Hayevoy and Illia Pidhaynyi

In honor of both alumni, Ukrainian Catholic University has established endowed scholarship funds to support students in need.

Also included in the list was Yaryna Bazylevych, program manager of the initiative “Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025” and of the All-Ukrainian youth networking platform “Molodvizh.” Yaryna, her mother Yevheniia, and her two younger sisters – Emilia and Daria (an UCU student) – were killed in a missile strike on Lviv on September 4, 2024.

As Forbes Ukraine writes, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, at least 13,000 civilians (according to the UN) and over 45,000 servicemen (according to President Volodymyr Zelensky) have been killed. Among them are nearly 100 journalists, more than 200 artists, and over 600 athletes, coaches, and youth workers.

Alongside the “30 Under 30” list, where Forbes Ukraine selects young leaders based on achievements and potential, the publication also publishes the names of 30 Ukrainians under 30 whom the war has taken in the past 12 months. The project was created in cooperation with the memorial platform “Memorial.”

Source: Forbes Ukraine