At a military school in western Ukraine, 136 graduating cadets threw their hats into the air, marking the end of years spent living, studying, and training together. For many, this graduation is the first step toward a career in the armed forces during a time of war.
Daily Life at the Military Lyceum
The school, home to about 400 cadets from across the country, resembles any other high school on paper, with subjects like mathematics, physics, English, and history. However, daily life includes military drills, tactical exercises, and drone training, taught alongside academics by civilian teachers and military officers.
“They go from boys to men to warriors here,” said Taras Hrytsevych, the deputy head of the school.
Graduation Day Ceremony
Heavy clouds hung above the schoolyard as the graduating cadets marched in white uniforms. Parents, family, and friends lined the square, searching for familiar faces. Among the graduates was Zakhar Yanov, 17, who traveled nearly 560 miles from Dnipro to attend the school. After summer, he will move to Odesa to study at a military academy.
“It’s my duty to defend Ukraine,” Yanov said. “I want to join the airborne forces.”
Female Cadets Join the Ranks
Since 2024, the school has admitted girls. Kateryna Sheremeta, 16, from the Volyn region, plans to attend the national academy of the state border guard service in Khmelnytskyi to become a border guard officer. “Before the war, I thought about working with something creative, such as becoming an architect or a designer,” Sheremeta said. “But after the invasion, I realized this is where I belong.” Her father served in the military, both brothers served, and one was killed in January 2025 at age 25.
After the Parade
Following the ceremony, cadets hugged parents they had not seen for weeks or months and posed for photographs. Within days, many will submit applications to military academies, while others will pursue civilian careers. The dormitories will remain empty until a new class arrives in September.
