OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student is educating his peers about the situation in his home country of Ukraine through a powerful exhibit.
With help from the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and Razom for Ukraine, UWO student Vladyslav Plyaka created the ‘Drones: The Game Changers of the War in Ukraine’ exhibit.
Through an internship he had over the summer in Washington, D.C., Plyaka was able to get access to fragments of drones and missiles used in the war between Russia and Ukraine. These items were on display on Wednesday night in the Reeve Student Union at UWO.
There were also information sheets on display so attendees could learn more about what they were looking at. There were also examples of drones used in the war on display.
To supplement the exhibit, Plyaka was able to secure a visit from Ukrainian drone operator David Piasetskyi to UWO, where he discussed his experience fighting on the frontlines of the war.
“The war doesn’t stop, we’re going to take a coffee break now, or go to the movies, or go to sleep, when you’re frontline, you don’t have those options,” he told the audience.
Piasetskyi was part of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade and fought on the frontlines of the Kharkiv region. Earlier this year, an enemy FPV drone hit his group’s position, and a gas cylinder exploded next to him. He suffered serious injuries, including losing his left arm, right eye, all of his fingers on his right hand, and burns throughout his body.
An organization called ‘Revived Soldiers Ukraine’ helped him come to the United States to receive medical care.
In a question-and-answer session at the event at UWO on Wednesday night, Piasetskyi provided his perspective on how drones have changed how we wage war. His wife, Diana, joined him on stage, and Plyaka and Lieutenant Colonel Jon Doiron moderated the discussion.
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There was more to the night than the drone exhibit and Piasetskyi’s talk. Plyaka also brought back his ‘Unissued Diplomas’ exhibit, which highlights the stories of Ukrainian college students who died in the war before they could graduate from college. Plyaka also displayed pictures taken on the frontlines of the war.
“By talking about Ukraine right now, by raising awareness about the war, we can ensure that this doesn’t happen again,” Plyaka said. “The more we are educated about Ukraine, the safer the world will be. Ukraine is going to fight; we are extremely thankful for everybody’s support. Thirdly, Russia will not stop with Ukraine. They will keep on going.”
