Vitalii Kolesnykov enrolled in the first year of studies this year. A former BMP-2 gunner-operator, he joined the armed forces on the second day of the full-scale invasion (having previously taken part in the ATO in 2015–2016). He served in some of the most difficult frontline areas – Donetsk, Kherson and Kharkiv regions. Vitalii was demobilised due to tragic family circumstances: his wife passed away prematurely, so he returned home to raise their three children. Today, Vitalii works in the maintenance service shop at Northern Iron Ore. In addition to his fifth-grade qualification as a maintenance fitter, he decided to obtain a higher education by choosing mechanical equipment and systems engineering as his bachelor’s specialisation. He says he has no specific career plans or pronounced ambitions.

"I simply felt like trying something new. Perhaps to fill the void that formed after a painful family loss, to distract myself through studying, new knowledge and information… I once studied mineral processing but did not complete the programme.  When I heard about the simplified admission procedure for veterans at the Polytechnic, I thought: why not take advantage of it, especially since it is free of charge. To be honest, it is quite challenging at the moment: there is simply not enough time to cope with all the assignments, and on top of that, regular power outages have begun. Still, the learning process itself is organised in a very convenient way for us: whenever there is time after work, I can log in and watch lectures and seminars. The lecturers are very friendly and explain things clearly, I would even say they break everything down step by step. You really feel the support at every stage. I was also pleased that the curriculum does not include general subjects - everything is strictly related to the specialisation.  We’ll see how it all works out and what it brings. Nothing happens for nothing. For me, starting to study at 42 is a personal adventure and, to some extent, a challenge to myself,” says veteran Vitalii KOLESNYKOV. 

Another railway professional from Northern Iron Or, Serhii Martynenko, has become a first-year university student. Working as an assistant driver of a traction unit that transports rock mass from open-pit mines and dumps, he now spends his evenings studying open-pit mining. For a long time, it was difficult for him to imagine returning to student life at the age of 51. However, his determination to continue developing, embrace change, and make a meaningful contribution to production development ultimately shaped his decision.

“Now I can say with confidence that higher education is possible at any age. Yes, it’s not easy – your mind isn’t quite as sharp as it was when you were younger.  But when something is new and interesting, it really resonates and stays with you. The study format helps a lot:  four days of classes and three days off, which leaves time for homework. I attend lectures whenever I can, although work doesn’t always allow me to join live sessions. More often, I watch the recordings in the evenings or on weekends. The lecturers are excellent! They are very understanding of our workload. Mining physics, chemistry, mathematics, English… Honestly, I don’t regret it at all, and I would recommend it to everyone. I thought I would be the oldest in my group, but it turns out there are even older students. It’s great that the company offers such opportunities to veterans and its employees. This kind of support and care is especially important when returning to everyday life," says Serhii MARTYNENKO.