By Jake Indursky (MIA ’23), Hamna Tariq (MIA ’23), Thomas Rowland (MPA ’22)

After the news broke overnight of Russia’s unprovoked invasion into Ukraine, SIPA students quickly mobilized a rally Thursday afternoon to demonstrate the student body’s staunch support for their Ukrainian classmates and the people of Ukraine.

Gathered on the steps of Columbia University’s Low Library, five Ukrainian students shared their life experiences and reactions over the last several months — and years — as Russia increased its military threats, culminating in the launch of an invasion and numerous airstrikes across the country in the past 24 hours.

Mariya Katsman, a SIPA student who grew up in Kharkiv, Ukraine and came to the United States in 2015, called out Russia’s role as the aggressor. “This is not the ‘Ukrainian conflict,’” she said. “There are two parties involved in a conflict. There is only one party involved in this — the aggressor.”

The speakers also highlighted the difficulty of being away from their homeland during a time of crisis. "I may never see my parents again," one student shared.

While these Ukrainian students spoke for over 30 minutes, hundreds of classmates listened attentively as both active policy students and sympathetic friends.

Christian König, a German SIPA student who helped organize the event, emphasized the necessity of providing a platform for affected students. “I came today because I don't want to be silent in the face of this invasion and brutality,” he said. “Each of us has little opportunity to act individually in this situation, but as a community, we have a responsibility to support fellow students from the region. And as policy students, we have a responsibility to be involved and not stand idly by. Speaking up together, that’s something hugely powerful.”

“I’m here in support of Ukrainian students,” Ali Javaheri, another SIPA student, said. “We need to remind ourselves that there is more than one imperial actor in the world. We need to speak out against all imperial aggression.”

Ultimately, a few speakers raised, Russia’s declaration of war will reverberate across the world, as millions of eyes turn to Ukraine.

“This is not just aggression on Ukraine, but aggression against freedom,” Katsman said.

Another Ukrainian student echoed this sentiment, saying, “the Ukrainian flag is a symbol of freedom of the 21st century.”