The meeting will be held in the Main Building of the War Museum with a "battle penguin" – participant of four Antarctic expeditions and former serviceman Yurii Lyshenko, as well as the Director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center (NASC) Yevhen Dykyi.
27 polar explorers – that is how many participants of Antarctic expeditions have joined Ukraine’s Defense Forces since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion. This number is nearly equivalent to two full wintering teams at the Akademik Vernadsky Research Base. These polar explorers-turned-soldiers are symbolically known as “battle penguins”. Among them are scientists, cooks, doctors, engineers, and sysadmins who have become infantrymen, sappers, drone operators, and communications officers on the frontlines.
During the meeting, you will hear the stories of those who returned from icy Antarctica to take up arms and defend Ukraine. One of the “battle penguins”, Yurii Lyshenko, became an assault soldier, survived enemy shelling, lost a leg, and yet returned to “Vernadsky” as part of a seasonal expedition.
Now back home from his latest mission, Yurii will speak alongside NASC Director Yevhen Dykyi about the main areas and significance of Ukraine’s scientific research on the icy continent, the station’s infrastructure, and life at Akademik Vernadsky Research Base. The main focus, however, will be on the brave and resilient – those who proudly wear the “battle penguin” patch and continue to fight for our shared victory over rashism.
Speakers:
- Yevhen Dykyi – Director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war
- Yurii Lyshenko – Participant of four Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions, veteran of the russian-Ukrainian war
Moderator: Inna Yermakova, Researcher at the War Museum.
