Lectures in blackouts and exams in a shelter. A professor on struggles of teaching during the war

"The thing I wanted most when the war started was for the youth to stay safe," says Bohdan Rublyov, a 58-year-old professor in the Department of Computational Mathematics at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, one of the largest universities in the country.

Bohdan Rublyov is a legend among mathematics teachers in Ukraine. A Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, he devoted almost 40 years—his entire professional life—to teaching students at his alma mater and also training schoolchildren for mathematical Olympiads. In 2018, his students’ team placed fourth at the International Mathematical Olympiad, winning four gold and two silver medals. For his achievements, the state even awarded him the Order of Merit of Ukraine (III class) and the title of Honored Education Worker of Ukraine.

In the more than two and a half years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, over 655,000 Ukrainian educators have been able to continue teaching the youth and leading them to victories like Bohdan Rublyov, thanks to the support of the United States government. Since April 2022, the government of Ukraine has received $26.8 billion in direct budget support through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to reimburse critical social expenditures, including salaries for school and university employees.

A lecture under a barrage of explosions

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Professor Rublyov and his family have stayed in Kyiv, even after he saw Russia’s missiles hitting the power plant from his window. His resilience and devotion to teaching were evident from the first hours of the invasion.

On February 24, 2022, he was supposed to conduct an online lecture on mathematical analysis for more than 40 students. Despite the explosions and horrors of the first day of the war, the lecture took place.

"We could already hear the cannonade of explosions in Kyiv, and I discussed what was happening with the students. We shared our thoughts and feelings," the educator recollects.

This lecture was his first wartime lecture, but it also became his last for several following weeks because soon, the education process at the university was suspended.

Although the university’s educational process was paused for less than six weeks and resumed in early April 2022, the professor is primarily concerned with how the war affects the quality of education. Ukrainian schools and universities have been able to continue teaching without risking the students’ safety by preserving the remote learning they practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the one hand, face-to-face teaching is impossible because no bomb shelter can accommodate thousands of the university’s students. On the other hand, according to the professor, remote learning impairs students’ ability to comprehend the learning material and, thus, their academic performance.

Therefore, Professor Rublyov aims to engage with his students in person as much as possible. However, it is safe for only small groups, such as module examinations and consultations, to meet face-to-face, as sometimes they need to take cover in the bomb shelter to be able to continue the class. For example, in November 2022, the educator carried out a module examination in the bomb shelter during mass shelling, without electricity, using flashlights as the only source of light.

Problems with electricity further complicate the educational process and reduce the effectiveness of distance learning. During the fall and winter blackouts of 2022-2023, Rublyov had to move between three locations in order not to miss his lectures. "I looked at the schedule of power outages to figure out where I had more chances to give a lecture, and I went either out of town, or home, or to the university," he says.

Mathematics as a sport

Bohdan Rublyov is also well-known outside the university auditoriums, as he has devoted many years to preparing schoolchildren for mathematical Olympiads. Even as a child, he was fascinated by science and repeatedly participated in mathematics Olympiads himself. Nostalgia for the atmosphere of the competition inspired him to return to this business — but now in the role of a teacher. Since 2004, while continuing his work at the university, Rublyov had been preparing talented schoolchildren for competitions until he became the head of the jury of the All-Ukrainian Mathematical Olympiad in 2007 and stopped training the participants.

"For me, the Mathematical Olympiad is a kind of sports mathematics. It presents real challenges and the most interesting problems and reveals the strongest children, real "diamonds" among young mathematicians who find the school program too easy," the educator explains.

He trained almost 30 children. Two of them brought home the main awards from international mathematical Olympiads.

Even during the war, the professor organizes mathematical competitions for children. For example, in 2023, the All-Ukrainian Mathematical Olympiad for school students in grades 8 through 11 was held for the first time since the pandemic. "The children were really happy with the organization of the competition, communication with like-minded people, and the treatment they experienced. I am sure that 99% of those who attended this Olympiad will want to go to the next one," says Rublyov.

Through mathematical Olympiads, the teacher also met Yulia Zdanovska, a 21-year-old teacher, winner of multiple international mathematics and informatics Olympiads, and a graduate of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. According to Professor Rublyov, who awarded her at the Olympiads as the head of the jury, she could have had a great future in science. But on March 3, 2022, 21-year-old Yulia died when a Russian rocket hit the building of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.

"It was a shock for the entire mathematical community, for everyone who knew her," he recalls.

 In the same year, a street in Kyiv was named in honor of Yulia Zdanovska — formerly Lomonosov Street. In memory of the girl, the Faculty of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology created a free educational project for talented high school students from Ukraine.

Bohdan Rublyov refuses to let the war extinguish his hope for the future and has faith in the resilience of Ukrainian youth. Despite the challenges of shelling and power outages, he successfully guided his university students to graduation. At the same time, he continued to support schoolchildren. In the second half of 2022, once it was safer to gather them, he helped organize 12 math competitions, training sessions, and other events, each attracting between 60 and 400 children.

Things got even better in the 2023/2024 academic year, and the number of events reached the pre-war level of 26. "I’m most proud of the kids, teachers, and parents who stayed in Ukraine and continued participating in math competitions despite the war. The number of children attending the events decreased by half, but they were still happy to meet each other and have this experience," says the professor.

As a teacher, he regrets that many talented young people were forced to leave the country and may never return: "They are worth their weight in gold in the West—they come to school, quickly master the language, and become top students. It’s no surprise that countries like Poland, Germany, and Britain want to integrate them; smart mathematicians are in demand everywhere."

Nevertheless, the professor keeps his spirits up and is making plans for the post-war future, recognizing the increased opportunities for educational development through closer ties with the West. He is also eager to help more children appreciate the beauty of mathematics.

"In 2024, Ukraine was supposed to host the International Mathematical Olympiad. But because of the war, it was taken away from us. I believe that after the victory, we will be able to hold such events in our country," concludes the educator.

He also hopes for increased support for teachers, especially young educators, who go beyond simply teaching the subject; they actively seek out and nurture talents, providing essential guidance and encouragement.

^{Photos provided by LIGA.net and Bohdan Rublev}