How did the lesson go?

Did you complete the lesson about Russia and Ukraine at school with your teacher? If so, we’d love to hear about any good discussions you had. You could tell us…

  • … about any good debates between you and your classmates. For example, about whether facts or voices told the news story better.

  • …how you changed your mind about something during the lesson. For example, did you have any thoughts about the Russia-Ukraine war that were different from the beginning to the end of the lesson?

  • …about how you feel about the experts, who shared their views. How did hearing from them help you to learn about this topic?

If you haven’t done this lesson yet but you’d like to – let your teacher know. They can download the Topical Talk resources.

Comments (59)

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  • The lesson went really good and I learnt some new fact about Russia and Ukraine and the reasons or causes of the war. The thing that was most surprising to me is that Russia currently controls one-fifth of Ukraine. In December 2024, President Volodmyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, asked for more help and countries like United States of America continued sending supplies, money and food to support Ukraine.
    I strongly believe the Russia and Ukraine war would come to an end but it would take the effort of the world for the war to end.

    1. I agree because as we did the lesson and the facts shock our classroom, especially the fact that Russia is so ruthless, that the Ukrainien students can't learn in peace without the fear a missile or bomb being dropped over head as they learn. I especially agree when it comes to the fact that it's a group effort, in this case a world effort, to help stop the war or at least help Ukraine gain some power in the war and help them get back their strength.

      1. I agree with this comment because the lesson was shocking, especially learning how Russia has been harsh. Ukrainian students can't study in peace due to the constant fear of attacks. I also think global support is important to end the war and help Ukraine.

    2. Thanks for sharing what you learned, quick_lemon. Did you learn anything about how people in Russia are struggling because of the war too?

  • The lesson in my class today was very depressing to hear because of the causes of the war and the outcomes.We had a debate whether it was ok if someone would involve with another countries war and interfere with it that was from a completely different country.We went back and forth about it I disagreed with the idea but my classmate and peers were trying to agree with the situation.
    The discussion really changed my view on the war and made me feel a lot of emotions such as disgust for the damage and the useless point of the war, fear that it would only get worse, hope for the the better of the situation, and anger at Russia for just trying to control Ukraine.

    Somethings I also heard there was the destruction of hospitals, buildings, and streets.Lack of health care support and doctors leaving Russia and Ukraine barely surviving the war.Lack of education and more.It was very heart wrenching sight to see.i felt pity for this war.
    I learned that Russia wanted to befriend Ukraine however Ukraine had other friendships so in return Russia had invaded Ukraine.That was what I learned.

  • It was great. First we talked about the two countries relationship with each other before the war by making a timeline. Then, we share what we felt was the most important part of the timeline and why and be ready for someone to rebuttal. Next , we went around the classroom and scanned qr codes to watch videos on people who live or lived in these countries during war. Lastly, we reflected on what we talked about overall.

  • It is very depressing to hear about the situation going on with Russia and Ukraine involving the harsh condtitions both countries have to face during this time period. So to start first we began talking about the how Russia and Ukraine are at war, we were then given cards and decided which time period was the most important, everyone had their different opinions on which one was the most important but there are multiple possible reasons on how this fued could have started. After, we watched several videos from Russian and Ukrainian civilians regarding their opinions on the war. Many of these civilians feel conflicted about their roles in the war, as many men, doctors, journalist, etc. feel they have been wronged for being tricked to joining the war and doctors don't have the ability to help other civilians because of the war. To conclude, civilians from both sides of the war have been affected by the war with Ukraine having to constantly battle and the Russia government trying to control its civilians.

  • From our lesson, I gained a lot of new insight that I hadn't considered before so. During the lesson, our class rotated around and listened to the personal stories from people in Russia and Ukraine. One new thing I realized was that I never took time to think about how the war had affected Russian civilians and workers. I had only payed attention to how Russia was bombing and trying to take control of Ukraine, and failed to consider how this has affected Russians who were against the war. Anyone who tried to speak against what the government saw in the war was imprisoned or killed. Schools and education were shut down or restricted. I feel this shows how war negatively affects citizens from both opposing countries, no matter which country attacked first.

  • In the lesson, we took worksheets from the teacher which had randomly separated information about the topic. And our job was to cut each part and to put them into chronological order (it depends on our knowledge about the war). After that, we started making discussions about this topic, questions and answers, extra information for extra knowledge and help is some comments too!

  • Hello,
    The lesson was really interesting and useful to me as I knew important and significant informations that clarified for me the misinformation. I would like to share some interesting facts with you and tell you my opinion about it. Here are some:
    - Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine
    - Many countries have helped Russia and Ukraine in different ways for example, the United States has sent supplies and food to help people in Ukraine.
    Well, I changed my whole mind about the other countries when I knew these informations in the lesson. Before the lesson, I thought that other countries were not helping Russia or even Ukraine but after that, I recognized how huge things that others do. So I am really happy for this information. BUT I don't completely agree with the first information (Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine) because it is not good for a country to be under control all the time and being unable for the people to do whatever they want. Imagine that you are all the time cannot do something that you really love so this is what Ukraine is facing now.

    From my point of view, I think that the expert's own point of view is really useful because they are experienced and this let us know more about the topic at different aspects which helps us be able to write about the topic easily.

    To sum up, I hope the war finish as fast as possible because the war is affecting everyone around the world and even the people who live in Russia and Ukraine.
    Thanks🌷

  • Our class discussion was sad because the fact that so many people had to flee their country in order to be safe is sad. Whats more sad is that these poor innocent journalists were killed jailed or poisoned. Its not fair that these people have to suffer because they want to fo the right thing. Not only that the doctors have to work underground to be safe from bombs and its really sad. Then these innocent kids who want to go to school and learn, are being bombed and its really sad.

  • The lesson widened my understanding on what was going on between Russia and Ukraine. In a matter of days from now, the ongoing war will be 3 years. During the lesson, I got to listen to peoples point of views about the war, facts and perspectives. I figured out neither sides are benefiting from the war but rather having a great loss. Russia has lost a number of doctors and citizen because the rule was made that ages 18- 27 must join the army and many people are scared of being conscripted into the army. Also mercenaries in Russia are sentenced for fighting for Ukraine and not only mercenaries that are sentenced but anyone who refuses to fight for the country.
    On the other hand Ukraine isn't benefiting either. the have lost:
    Buildings(schools and hospitals): concerning health care facilities, 801 hospitals have been destroyed, 252 health workers have been killed and a total of 1,582 attacks have been carried out on health care facilities.
    Due to the war companies like Mc Donald will have to shut down for a period of time until the war is over
    To conclude, many people have been affected by the war and are hoping for a fresh start because the war has brought them down physically and economically and people want to be united once more.

  • The lesson was extremely significant. I gained a lot of information. I knew that Russia wanted to take control of Ukraine because of three reasons. Firstly, Ukraine has great minerals such as Titanium consequently Russia wanted the land of Ukraine to do wonderful trades with other European countries. Secondly Ukraine has great soil. Russia wanted soil for better biodiversity. Thirdly, in the past, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine wanted to be an independent country, but Russia wanted Ukraine to be neighbors.

    To conclude, I gained a lot of information that day and I hope that the war ends between them.

  • Our classroom discussion was very eye opening about the things that were going on in Ukraine and Russia. As the teacher told us to go around and look at the different videos I realized the hardships that both countries were facing. At first I believed that although the war was going on kids would be able to receive the education that they deserved however this is very far from the case. Instead of learning in school buildings kids were forced to learn online which I know from my own personal experience is very hard. We also realized the hardships that Russia was facing and the horrible things that Russia would do to those who spoke out about the war. In the end the discussion in my classroom was very eye opening about the things that both countries and the people inside of it are dealing with.

    1. I agree because when my class went around to the videos I noticed that both countries suffered the same issues. But the most eye-opening thing was that the president of Ukraine went into war and fought instead of hiding away in a bomb shelter he went out and fought. Also just like you I noticed the fact that many people were killed or threatened just by speaking out and I feel that this is like what Trump is doing in the US too. Because similarly Trump has told the CDC to not release any health info unless he approved it and that's what russia is doing just that russia kills them.

  • The lesson about Russia and Ukraine at school was incredibly insightful and changed my perspective on the conflict. We started by discussing the historical relationships between the two countries and then explored the reasons behind the war. One of the most interesting activities we did was organizing key events in chronological order, which helped us understand the timeline of the conflict better.

    During the discussion, my classmates and I debated whether the voices of people affected by the war or factual reports were more impactful in telling the story. Some argued that personal stories make the conflict more real and emotional, while others believed facts provide a clearer and more objective understanding.

    One fact that surprised me was that Russia has controlled parts of Ukraine since 2014, not just since the 2022 invasion. I initially thought the war was a recent event but learning about the annexation of Crimea changed my perspective. It made me realize that this conflict has deep roots and isn't just about recent events.

    Also listening to experts helped me understand that the war affects not just Ukraine but also Russia and the world, causing economic struggles and loss of freedom from many.

    To sum up, the lesson was eye-opening and I now understand that the war is not just about land but also political, resources and global power. I hope for a peaceful resolution soon, as so many lives have been affected on both sides.

  • I think their should be a Hub discussion about Trump making concessions with Russia over Ukraine without Ukraine's consent and European input. In recent news such as Channel 4 and BBC it highlights really how Trump is making not only allies of Ukraine anxious about the end of the war it also states how Allies of Ukraine believe US is turning their back on Ukraine. And I feel like this recent topic important to discuss for political and worldwide reasons. And also going to impact how people in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa view the this conflict between these three countries. Thank you for listening!

  • The lesson at my school proved profoundly enlightening. It highlighted the immense challenges journalists faced, courageously navigating perilous conditions. Furthermore, it underscored the devastating impact of the Russian attacks on Ukraine, shedding light on how these events are disrupting the education of countless students and, most critically, jeopardizing their bright futures.

  • The lesson in our school was very informative and eye opening and everyone felt very dejected and depressive after learning about the bitter truth about the hardships of people.In my personal opinion,This lesson changed my perspective towards conflicts and I further learnt that due to this war,On the ground level,Many innocent people have also lost their livelihoods and lives.When learning this lesson,We discussed about many eye-opening topics like the declining of economy and potential for growth in both the countries.Also we came to know about the hardships about these conflicts from the victims own mouths and also found informative facts by solving puzzles about the timeline of this war.By the timeline we learn the historical relations of these countries and came to know that these conflicts have very deep roots from the 19th-20th centuries.We also discussed that Elon Musk has another view on this and he states that Ukraine should give russia a part of land for the war to end which is a good solution.Also our teacher shared an experience that,our school had an online conference with the students of Ukraine and we learnt the harsh reality that the students had to leave the schools and hide in bunkers when the emergency sirens rang.Ee discussed many such examples which were truly both informative as well as depressing.

    To sum up,I would like to say that through this lesson,I learnt about the problems faced by the common citizens despite having no fault for this conflict.I hope for this brutal war to end as soon as possible and the countries befriend each other.

  • doing the lesson today was really educational because I didn't know half the stuff on the cards
    its good to get the perspective of people from ukraine and russia because some of the stuff really meant something.

  • The lesson was spectacular, conserving the ideas of both Russians and Ukrainians. Firstly, I expanded my perspective on the history of Ukraine and Russia. Learning about the Soviet Union's partition and the invasion of Crimea cleared all the doubts I had. It opened the door to understanding the intentions behind the invasion: was it merely territorial conquest, or was it driven by control of the Black Sea? The conclusions of those at war led me to one equation that simplified the war's causes: it is the Ukrainian government and its people against the Russian government. By the same token, I want to highlight that not all Russian doctors, journalists, and soldiers support their government's actions. Such debates stood out to me. My friend said that doctors must stay on the battlefield, but I opposed this, saying that doctors are human beings, and survival is their instinct. One said that one doctor can balance the equation by treating a thousand soldiers. I also expressed concern by introducing the Doomsday Clock, a measure of humanity's longevity based on its war activity. The situation of children like us in Ukraine is dire. The resilience of teachers in continuing education while in terror is commendable. My friend told us that joining NATO must be a top priority for Ukraine, but establishing education must be equally important, as it essentially decides the future. I tried to connect the opportunity Ukrainian experts have to revise their curricula, keeping gender equality, AI, and social media in mind. Overall, it was a perfect blend of experiences and facts.

  • This lesson was really informative and helpful as it made me change my mind and helped clear my misconceptions about the RELATIONSHIP between Russia and Ukriane. I used to think that Ukraine and Russia were really nice and supportive friends as they both were a part of the Soviet Union. But through this lesson, I got to that Ukraine left the Soviet Union as it got friendlier with America and became independent in 1991, and increased the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. After leaving the Soviet Union, Ukraine became more affable with the NATO which Russia took as a betrayal leading to the start of Russia - Ukraine war which changed these 2 countries' relationship!

  • The lesson was amazing and it corrected many of my misconceptions about the war. The best part was that I was shocked to know that the President of Ukraine wanted to have more and more help from other countries instead of having a settlement agreement.
    We also had a short debate on 'personal facts v facts' where no one won clearly, but rather it proved out to be a great activity for many of us helping change our one-sided mindset and know more about other tactics as well.

  • This lesson actually taught me a lot of new things which are going around the world. I got to know how the Russia- Ukraine war started. I learnt that for a long time, there have been ongoing conflicts and tensions between Russia and Ukraine. I also read about the lives of different people belonging to different profession from Russia and Ukraine. It was a very knowledgeable lesson as it taught me a lot about the current affairs and the Russia- Ukraine war.

  • This tragic pretty much is frightening me about their loses, I could never imagine losing a loved one and going through what they did. I'm happy for those who've escaped the war and approximately 6.8 million have. It makes me jolly to know that the USA and Russia are both getting on good terms to end the war. Most people who have went through the war are traumatized and I feel traumatized hearing about this in the lesson, I honestly just feel hurt. Overall the lesson was fascinating hearing peoples stories and how they're safe now .

    1. It sounds like the lesson had a deep impact on you - thank you for sharing.

  • The lesson about the Ukraine and Russia war was very interesting and fun. We learnt about how the war started and when they lived in a peaceful entity called the Soviet Union. During our discussion about the topic, what caught my attention was that the war started because Ukraine became friends with other countries like America without informing Russia about it and Russia were envious. When we finished the discussion I learnt that Ukraine did not do anything at all wrong to Russia, but Russia started the war. This lesson mostly taught me to learn to respect and live in peace with one another to avoid trouble.

  • This lesson was so interesting to me, I learnt many things about the situation in Russia and Ukraine and how the war that has been already on for three years now has been affecting people. It was a interest way of giving a class, we heard through different videos the points of view of different journalists. The videos were about two or three minutes each and I herd many new things from the jounalists in them. In this lesson we learnt basically the reasons and the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine, but the fact that impacted me the most and i nver heard of before is that actually Russia controls one fifth of Ukraine. There are many countries like the United Estates that are helping Ukraine after its presindent asked it and I strongly believe that this war will come to an end soon.

  • My classroom lesson underscored several prominent issues that the Ukrainians are facing due to the Russia- Ukraine war. It covered how journalists are being torched and had a shedding light on how learner’s are forced to dropout of their respective institutions since the war is on.

  • I think the last lesson wehad was pretty good on terms of making us learn a bit more about what is going o, also I believe is key to not forget about it eventought it has been a while since it started but the work some institutions are putting on it has helped a lot for it to not be forgotten

  • The lesson gave me mixed emotions on the topic. I learned how Ukraine and Russia got in war. After hearing it on the internet, I wanted to do further research on the topic. Not only learning about the medical shortage in Ukraine, but learning about the shortage of education in Russia.

  • The lesson went well and I learned a lot of information about the war between Russia and Ukraine. After the QR codes I learned the perspectives of what they dealt with.

  • The class lesson explained it very good and I was able to understand it well. It provided information about Russia and Ukraine, and gave me information about what people experienced first hand.

  • This lesson proved to be just as knowledgeable as the rest. Previously, I believed I knew quite a lot about the topic of the War but I was proved to be incorrect. This lesson added so much information that I never had even heard about.

    The fact that the conflict has lasted for over ten years and not just over the last three years was completely unexpected but I am more than glad to be made aware of that. I am also thankful to be able to see the Russian civilian side of things; which is something that is not seen throughout the media and news. Since this lesson I have now been able to understand just how both sides (Russia and Ukraine) are suffering due to the conflict.

    Learning the harsh realities of how the lives of the civilians have been effected has been truly devastating. Previously, I knew how many people were being killed but I had no idea of the full extent of it all. The videos provided by people from both countries has really been an eye opener and I am hoping to learn more about the subject.

    Thank you for this lesson and suppling such knowledge to a detailed extent, providing knowledge not commonly covered by the media.

  • I really liked todays lesson. I learned a lot of new facts, which proved I didn't know as much as I thought I did. For example, I didn't know how long the conflict had actually been going on. I was unaware that Crimea was originally a part of Ukraine, or that it was taken in 2014. I was also unaware how much land Russia occupied, and one fifth really surprised me. I also really liked the videos. The videos helped develop my understanding of the situation of education in both Russia and Ukraine, and I had no idea how Russian schools were actually effected.

    This lesson made me question how much influence the media can have on both sides of the war, and how Putin's dictatorship can crush media into only supporting Russia. I hope any journalists who fled, and the family of those are alright. I also hope there will be an end to this conflict, and civilians of both countries have freedom.

    i really like this lesson, thank you for making it.

  • The lesson was very good, as we had the chance to learn new facts and new stuff about the problem that has been for over three years now and normally we don´t give it a lot of attention, but we should. We disscused or points of opinon. We spoked and debated on what we think they should do or what should happen next. This is very sad but it is something we have to get informed to know what is happening exactly around our world and try to help with whatever we can.

  • The classroom lesson really updated me on how the terms of war in Russia and Ukraine seem to be affecting everybody. Not just the soldiers, or the government, everybody. Seeing the effect that the war has had on the fields of education, construction, all jobs, not only on the Ukrainian side, but also the effect that it has had on Russian citizens and people with them not being able to have access to needed resources like textbooks, which had to be remade because of the manufacturers not selling to them anymore because of the war. Me and one of my classmates discussed what should be done to protect journalists. We debated on our ideas, which included using AI or robotic news reports and using military army camps or soldiers to protect the news reporters, and tried to find the pros and cons of of each idea. Honestly, this entire lesson changed my standpoint on the effect that this war has had on people worldwide. I used to think that Ukrainian citizens were the only ones experiencing the lack of basic necessities, but I now realize that Russians included are facing the same hardships. It made me sickened to hear about how people are creating wars for diplomacy or politics, and the citizens and soldiers are the ones being affected. It's really saddening to think about, and I can only wish that the terms and situation continues to improve.

  • I loved the lesson because I learnt a lot of facts about Russia and Ukraine. I have lots of empathy for the people who live in Ukraine, they are living a nightmare. I would love this war to end and peace to come back. It is so dreadful.

  • During our lesson on the Russia Ukraine war , we had a really interesting debate about whether facts or personal stories help us understand the conflict better. At first I believed that the facts were the most important because they provide clear and unbiased information . But as we listened to real life experiences from people affected by the war, I started to change mind. Personal stories show the emotions , struggle and real impact of the war in a way that the facts and news can not.

    We also did a timeline activity where we had to arrange the key events of the war in order , but the catch was that , it was already in the correct order ! At first we didn't realize it , but as we worked through the events , we started noticing patterns and connections between different moments in the war. It was a very clever way to make us think more deeply about the sequence of the events rather than just memorizing them.

    We also discussed the role of experts and how their perspective shape the way wee see the situation. Some experts focused on politics and military strategies. Some focused on the causes of war and how could it be prevented while some talked about doctors, education and some other things. This made me realize how complex the situation is and how different viewpoints can lead to completely different understanding of the same event.

    Overall this lesson made me think differently about how news is presented . I also came to know that it is not just about facts , it is about the personal and stories that tell us about the life of people facing the problems.

  • It was an amazing session on this topic. We discussed about why the war started, what are its consequences and effects on the common people. We also communicated about the relationship between the two countries. We shared our opinion about should this war be continued or stopped. It was a little devastating to hear the effects of this war. I also learnt many facts about both the countries... It was an intellectual session.

  • The lesson on Russia and Ukraine was like opening a giant door to a whole new world! I thought I knew everything about the war from the news, but by the end, I realized how much I didn’t understand. The debates in class were so exciting – everyone had different ideas, and it felt like trying to put together a giant puzzle. I used to think the news just gave facts, but after hearing different voices, I saw that the way stories are told really matters. Facts are important, but how they’re explained can totally change how people feel.

    One classmate said, "It’s not just about countries fighting, it’s about families and lives being ruined," and that really hit me. It made me realize how personal the war is for people. The experts we heard from were like treasure chests of knowledge! They gave me the pieces I was missing to understand what’s really going on. Without their insights, I’d still be confused.

    By the end of the lesson, I saw things differently. It wasn’t just about politics or power – it was about real people. I understand now that learning from all sides is so important, like putting together a jigsaw puzzle where every piece matters. This lesson opened my eyes, and I’ll never look at the news the same way again!

  • We did the lesson not long ago, and it was something. I knew the situation for the people facing that war was bad, but I never knew just how awful it was until we heard the personal stories of doctors, journalists, teachers and civilians. I feel disgusted by all the destruction. The fact that millions of innocent people have lost their homes, their families, their lives... I cannot even imagine how devastating that must be. War is a sensitive topic, especially for those who have been the victims of it.
    At my school we have Russian and Ukranian refugees, it must have been very hard for them to have to move to a new country with a different language and culture, having to leave behind all they have ever known and loved. I hope the war comes to an end so they can return to their countries (if they wish to, which they probably do) and have their lives back. Thank you.

  • The lesson in my class was very cooperative and very productive when it came to this topic. Between all the discussions, opinions, and comments that were made in the classroom were very good and even helped me with some comments for this topic. For example, one of my classmates talked about how they can't say the word "war" in Russia and how they shouldn't ban that, and that it is very extra and very bad for them. And the reason why they shouldn't do this is because it could hurt the people as they will not know what is going on in their country. So in conclusion, the discussions and conversations a=we had in the classroom during topical talk was very productive and cooperative when it came to this topic.

  • When we did the lesson I learned a lot of new things. I didn’t know how long the war had been going on and how bad it still is, I’m glad this lesson opened up my eyes. It also reminds me a lot of the war that went on between Croatia and Serbia over 30 years ago and the stories I have heard first hand from my close relatives. It was very hard hearing what people who live not that far from me have to go through now. The perspective of Russian victims also made me very sad, they just want the war to end and go home in peace.

  • Yes, we discussed it with our English teacher. We learnt the history of Ukraine and what is happening there. I was very interested in the difference between facts and personal statements. It was revealing! I also loved to learn more about the war and everything around it. We have news on TV and in the newspapers, but they aren't so comprehensive.

  • The lesson was very insightful and I learned a lot of new information I discovered that Russia aimed to control Ukaine far three main reason firstly Ukraine is rich in valuable minerals like titanium which made it an attention target for Russia could engage in profitable trade with other European nations secondly Ukraine possesses fertile soil which Russia saw as beneficial for improving biodiversity and agriculture lastly after the collapse of the Soviet union Ukraine sought independence however Russia wanted Ukraine to remin close as a night boring ally rather than a fully independent nation

  • The lesson was very gloomy yet informative at the same time. It was gloomy, sad and depressing because we were getting an actual insight into the miseries of the wars and the innocent lives suffering at the hands of greed for power. While being informative at the same time enlightening us about the actual and factual statistics and facts.

    It was heartbreaking to know that many of our fellow friends in Ukraine are not receiving a proper education due to the constant risk of the Russian invasion or being bombarded. While our Russian friends are not allowed to have a balanced approach towards education rather their curriculum is being twisted and manipulated by the government to portray themselves as "right" instead of nurturing the values of unity and sympathy young minds are being poisoned with one-sided opinion. Its like to secure the present, this war is draining the future.
    Also we had a great debate about - "is it ok for governments on both the sides to manipulate curriculums to suppress the other side of the war?" We had an intense discussion sharing the pros and cons of the situation and it really changed my view on the war and made me realise that war is not just fought amongst armies rather its a war that alters the present and shapes the future in every aspect including education and how it impacts each individual even in diverse fields.

  • Yes I did hear the lesson in my class it was very disappointing to hear that both countries have lost millions of people , and that they are suffering from economic crisis. In my class whe had debate on different issues that both the countries face . We were disagreeing at some of the things but my colleagues were agreeing which led to heated arguments . From this lesson I’ve also heard some of the important things that I didn’t know . This lesson gave me a glimpse of the whole Russia and Ukraine war .

  • I learned in the school lesson that Russia and Ukraine are enemies not only from 2022 but also from 1991 and 2014 and really the lesson was like a window that made me look at what is happening in the whole world.

  • Although me and my friend have not been able to have a verbal dispute on this topic, we have been keeping in touch and arguing back and forth which we believe provides a better news story, facts or voices. She has stated that facts have told the news story better while I stand firm on the voices tell news stories better. Although I agree with some of her arguments, facts do help us asses the specific damages, they do not tell the story better than a person who is affected by it firsthand. When you hear the emotion-bearing stories from a person who has witnessed these events first-hand, we can evaluate the danger on a more personal level as we can connect with the struggles of the victims more. However, I suppose I have lost the debate because a person who mentions the facts could in fact also be someone who is a victim to such events and be spreading their voice alongside the facts. Throughout this topic, I also learned something, how the schools and students were affected. Although it is a war, I never considered the schools to be damaged and the education of students to be put at risk. At the beginning of this lesson I had no idea about this and it has changed my view on the severity of this war. Furthermore, hearing the experts and their stories only added to my knowledge on the war. Like everyone, I know a war is bad, however, it is hard to know the extent if you are someone who lives fairly far and doesn't view the news as much, so hearing from them and their experiences has taught me much and I must thank Topical Talk for expanding my view on such events.

  • My school lesson on this particular agenda had a spectacular impact on my opinions about the war. It made me think more on the war field and practical situation that the people are facing. It underscored how the battle has affect lives of millions of people furthermore addressing the issue of learner’s.

  • Hello !
    The lesson was definitely amazing and insightful. The lesson provided us with a wider portfolio of what was happening in Ukraine in Russia. With facts and stories of all the experts. Yulia ma'am's story inspired me the most. Her courage to report freely and narrate her story to us with the fear of her being poisioned, her family threated etc. by someone(as mentioned in the video). This depicts her inner strenght way too perfectly. Her story also inspires me to work for my country just like her.
    Even though the lesson itself was amazing with several activities and group debates, after the lesson we were left with a mix of emotions. Happiness as the activities were amazing, pity on the common people suffering in the war and rage on the authorities who were sitting above and could have stopped this.
    After the lesson I changed my mind on the side of war. At first I sided Russia as Ukraine mistreated Russian soldiers and bombed Donetsk. But after knowing that almost 1/5 of Ukraine is captured by Russia and Ukrainians are in constant suffering I now think in the war Russia is somewhat wrong as the major reason it started war was because Russia wanted Ukraine to become his friend but Ukraine already had other relations with Russia's rivals like USA. I feel that is no reason to start a war, is it?
    But afterall its my opinion and others POV may vary.
    Overall I will rate this lesson a 10 as it helped us understant more about the war, the situation of people there, stories of our experts and did not fail to interest us with amazing activities.
    Thank you !

  • I thought this was one of the most interesting lessons we have had. I am especially glad we covered the backstory of the war, because it provoked many debates concerning qurstions like how maybe a better handling on the pqrt of Ukraine could have prevented enmity with Russia. Overall, definitely good food for thought.

  • I liked a lot the lesson and It was really good, I have learned a lot of new facts about Russia, Ukraine and the war that its actually taking place between them. I actually dont really like what is happening. In the lesson we started talking about what we actually knew about this two countries and also, we talked about what we think about what is going to happen in the future, which is actually very difficult to debate about it and get to a final conclusion in common with all the class. I also liked a lot the videos, I enjoyed them and also learned a lot, also because I like to see and know what the affected people think of the situations we are debating about.

  • Yes, I did do the lesson about Russia and ukraine. During the lesson, we heard from people in Russia and Ukraine. They talked about how things were in their country. there were also facts giving us more information about the war we heard different points of view from people like, journalists, doctors, people who fought in the war, and more.

    An example of a point of view we saw is the point of view of Yulia starostina, a journalist in Russia who is independent. She said that journalists were not able to do their job. Some journalists went to jail and some had to flee to avoid going to prison. We heard from many other leaders during the lesson. They told us about their experience in the war and what they had seen during the war.

    The facts told us extra information about the war. An example of this is that in Ukraine, thousands of healthcare buildings were destroyed. Because of this, people made small places underground to help those who have been wounded during the war. Another example of the fact is that most of the Russian soldiers go back to continue fighting in the war once they have fully recovered.

    To sum it all up, the lesson had taught me a lot about the Russia and Ukraine war. People inside of the war, or just the people living in the area have a very hard time with their life. In Russia the education system changed a lot. Tons of people had to flee to be safe from the war. some soldiers in the war even tried to secretly escape. Overall, the war has been going on for 3 years now and It is clear that recovering from this war, will not be an easy task

  • The lesson was great, I got to learn a bunch of new information about the Russia-Ukraine-War, for example I got to learned how in the beginning Russia and Ukraine had a nice friendship for a while until Ukraine started to be friendly with the other neighboring countries, which angered Russia. This leaded to Russia invading Ukraine, thus how the war starts.

  • yes it's really sad that this is happening in the world and that Russia would do this.

  • The lesson was very good and informative. With amazing activities to painful stories of our experts. However it was depressing too. Getting to know about effects of war or "special military operation" as called in Russia. How people are to suffer because of 2 presidents sitting in AC offices are giving commands.
    We had a good debate on wether Putin's wish of forming USSR again was right as it resulted in war. We reached different outcomes where some were stating its right as they were together for years and can benefit each other through trade or military, where some claiming its totally unreasonable as most wanted to form seperate nations and the living conditions in the USSR were unhuman.
    After this debate my mind changed. I thought it was right for Russia to demand USSR comes together but after hearing facts from my mates like- almost 1/6 people lived in USSR but its economy was not enough for them, a lot of families could not afford food and would starve, there natural resources were less and most of its money would go to military, a lot of people were jobless and illiterate etc. These facts made me believe that forming of USSR again was not only unreasonable but also harmful to humanity.
    I felt very sad about the experts who shared their stories. From doctors, journalists to conscripted people all were struggling is some ways. The person whose story inspired me the most was sir Ilya. He told us about the pain he faced stated "we were given bullets and painkillers thats all" this perfectly explains economy loss and the suffering of people living in Russia and Ukraine.

  • in my opinion every country has the right to be safe from wars no matter what , i understand why Russia has invaded Ukraine why i don't understand why they had to do it in such a unpleasant harsh way , back in the year 1991 Ukraine had gain independence because they wanted to be independent just like other counties in the soviet union, if i were in president zelenskys place in the year of 2019, { when he gain power and became president } i would join the united unions like Poland to protect myself and others . I think Ukraine should agree with the help of USA, however President trump should just help Ukraine without them again losing something { resources } i think trump is doing this out of greed .

  • Personally, I’ve learned a lot about this topic thanks to the experts. It’s true that all of the facts and the data were shocking: the number of hospitals and schools which have been destroyed, the amount of victims who have been left behind. When I thought about this, I realised that we live in a big world, and there are so many things going on outside of our home countries..
    By listening to the experts, I’ve learned about the political and historical facts (which are key elements),but I’ve also felt a huge amount of empathy. I can’t imagine the amount of people who feel unsafe, scared or even unheard.
    In my opinion, I believe that listening to people’s stories help us appreciate what we have,but also, how to give our opinions and to listen to everyone else. There’s no doubt that this topic has made me really emotional.

    Which was your favourite story? Why? Let me know!

    1. Thanks for sharing inspiring_imagination!

  • The lesson was very informative and helpful, I got to know things that I was completely unaware of. I got to know about how Ukraine is suffering more due to this war, because its opponent, Russia, is overpowering it. By overpowering, I mean Russia is more powerful than Ukraine, because of its relations with other countries, military facilities and other resources. I also learnt the reason for this war taking place and the historic relations between Ukraine and Russia along with Soviet Union and NATO. We also learnt about the experience of the people living in these warzones, their struggle and how they manage to survive.

  • our lesson went good and we learned things that we didn't know before like russia actually being attack and only ukraine being in danger is been bad for both parties but i learned 1 thing that changed my mind on the whole
    matter it was that leasing to other people who was in danger and had that fear and was there to experience what happend in the war that made my mind change comapletly which has made it important to lessing to what people say

  • our lesson is that we learnt how people in the war understand what is happening around them and how the kids will still be educated and that them being educated during the war show us that when they are older they will be able to help out even if there is another war later on during the rest of the year. the people around them might have an opinion to say that when the children are older they shouldn't join the war because they are risking there lives for other people that don't care because they might have money to rebuild there facility's that have been destroyed and all of there houses as well as hospitals .

  • Hello !

    The lesson was both enlightening and somber, offering a glimpse into the devastating consequences of war on innocent lives. The harsh realities of conflict and the impact on education were eye-opening, particularly in Ukraine, where students face immense challenges in accessing quality education due to the ongoing Russian invasion. Meanwhile, in Russia, the curriculum is often manipulated to promote a biased narrative, depriving students of a balanced understanding of the conflict.

    This manipulation of education raises important questions about the role of governments in shaping young minds. Our class debate on whether governments should be allowed to alter curriculums to promote their agendas sparked a lively discussion. While some argued that governments have a responsibility to instill patriotism and national pride, others countered that this approach can lead to a narrow, biased worldview.

    As we explored the complexities of this issue, it became clear that war is not just a conflict between nations, but also a battle for the minds and futures of younger generations. The impact of war on education is a stark reminder of the need for critical thinking, nuanced perspectives, and a commitment to truth and accuracy.

    Thank you !