In Part I of this extraordinary two-part conversation, Through The HurriKane sits down with two Ukrainians living through the reality of an active war while refusing to stop fighting for a better future for their country.

They share what it means to live, work, and build amid uncertainty—and why their mission extends far beyond surviving the war. At the heart of the conversation is the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) and its work to strengthen Ukraine through education, research, humanitarian efforts, and investment in the country’s future.

KSE’s mission is to help build the intellectual foundation for a strong and innovative Ukrainian economy, and during the war, its impact has extended into humanitarian aid, education, research, and Ukraine’s long-term recovery. (Kyiv School of Economics)

But this conversation is also deeply personal.

One of our guests, Yevgenii, is a Ukrainian soldier who was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Russia for more than two years.

In Part I, we learn about the people, purpose, and resilience behind their work—and what they want the rest of the world to understand about Ukraine beyond the headlines.

And this is only the beginning.

In Part II, Yevgenii takes us inside his remarkable story: his capture, more than two years in Russian captivity, and the experience of finally returning home.

Two people. A country at war. And an unwavering belief that Ukraine’s future is still worth building.

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