Rector of TNMU’s Greetings for Christmas and New Year

Dear colleagues and students,

Our beloved university family,

For three years, our nation has endured the harsh realities of war. For the second consecutive year, we celebrate Christmas and New Year with profound pain for our fallen and wounded soldiers, sorrow for the devastation of Ukrainian cities and villages, and concern for the future of our children.

On the eve of the glorious Christmas holiday, we extend our deepest gratitude to the employees, students, and alumni of our university who defend or have defended our land against the aggressor as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thanks to them and countless other brave soldiers enduring enemy fire in the trenches, we can celebrate this holiday in the warmth of our homes with our families. We bow our heads in memory of the university’s alumni and staff who gave their lives for Ukraine in this tragic war. During the Christmas season, let us offer sincere prayers for these heroes who paid the ultimate price so that we may proudly call ourselves Ukrainians.

I sincerely thank all members of our university community for whom the defense of Ukraine has become a vital mission: our volunteers who assemble medical kits, make trench candles, weave camouflage nets, donate blood, and support internally displaced persons; our clinical department staff who operate on and treat wounded soldiers; the dental center staff who provide care and prosthetics to military personnel and veterans; our psychiatrists and psychologists offering mental health support to soldiers and their families at the university’s Mental Health Center; the simulation center specialists training combat medics and conducting tactical and pre-medical aid courses; and everyone who generously responded to the administration’s repeated calls for financial support for our troops. In this great war, no contribution is too small, and the efforts of each of you are invaluable.

Despite the brutal war, we have done everything possible to ensure the university continues to thrive, the quality of education remains high, and our financial stability endures. In 2024, we successfully conducted our admissions campaign, welcoming nearly 1,000 motivated young individuals to our student family. The university has again achieved top rankings globally and nationally, maintaining its leadership position. Significant scientific achievements have been made: we won several international competitions, joined new global programs, and secured numerous international grants. This year, we introduced new specialties—Prosthetics and Orthotics and Healthcare Management—along with several specializations and courses. We expanded our international partnerships and signed contracts for two projects with the National Health Service of Ukraine. All this was made possible by our team’s professionalism, unity, and dedication. I thank each of you for making it possible to fulfill our shared mission as one family.

Dear friends,

Christmas is a special holiday. For over two millennia, Christians worldwide have associated the birth of Christ with renewed hope, faith in positive change, and belief in a better future. Today, we all share one greatest wish—victory and peace. May this sacred Christmas bring victory and peace to Ukraine and harmony, unity, and happiness to every Ukrainian family! May the Christmas Star unite us all, igniting the fire of faith, hope, and love in our hearts while filling our souls with the pure light of enduring human virtues and values.

Christmas reveals to us the magnificence of life through the birth of Jesus Christ and the boundless depth of love as God becomes human to one day save humanity. May this symbolic celebration of Christ’s birth become a true revelation of God within each of us. Let us experience it with heartfelt reverence! May the Newborn Savior grant us confidence in tomorrow, bless us with longevity and spiritual joy, heal our ailments, and illuminate us with His love.

Let’s seek God’s protection and care for our defenders this Christmas season. Let us pray for the courage and strength of the soldiers who safeguard our homeland and firmly believe in Ukraine’s victory. May our shared dream of a peaceful, free, and happy life become a reality for us and our children.

CHRIST IS BORN!
GLORIFY HIM!
Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to the Heroes!

Rector of TNMU, Mykhaylo Korda