Back from four-and-a-half months at sea, cadet Andrew Udovichenko celebrated the new year before returning for his last year of study at one of the world’s leading maritime institutes. Then Russian troops invaded his country.

“Unfortunately, before it really started, it ended,” said Udovichenko of his final year studies.

On the day of the invasion, the 21-year-old left Kherson State Maritime Academy in the key strategic Black Sea port city and headed with his family to comparative safety in western Ukraine.