Stories From Ukraine: June Chaikovska

Meet June Chaikovska, Legal Counsel at Preply, and the next inspiring person in our Stories from Ukraine series. Despite the ongoing challenges of the war, June continues to navigate life with hope and dedication. Her resilience goes beyond her work — she is deeply committed to supporting Ukraine’s future, using her legal expertise to drive positive change while staying connected to her roots and focused on the path ahead.

I live with the strong feeling that anything can happen. Even if something seems unimaginable and absolutely absurd, it still can happen, and the world has not proven me wrong yet.

The word “hope” started to feel different to me since the Russo-Ukrainian war began. When we talk about hope, we mean a desire for something particular to happen, right? So, once the full-scale invasion started, “hope” became more real and tangible. It’s not the same “hope” we use when typing “I hope this email finds you well” anymore. Hope has become heavier, and it signifies now that there’s something of extreme importance to desire, and it is something that does not feel reachable enough, so all we can do is hope for it.

I think many Ukrainians need to feel that there’s someone in the “outside world” who cares. However, more and more of us are losing faith and cannot be bothered anymore, and I understand why. The international community needs to demonstrate that they are learning the lesson Ukrainians are paying for with the lives of our best people.

Unfortunately, many world leaders are exposed to Russian propaganda and Russian money. That’s why I truly believe that enhancing our critical thinking skills and developing strong resilience against psychological operations (PSYOP) is vital for our stability and mental well-being.

There are a lot of small steps we can take on our own to make a difference. When I was growing up, my hometown Odesa, was infected with Russification. So there is definitely room for growth — or rather, for deepening my Ukrainian roots. I use any opportunity to explore Ukrainian traditions and improve my knowledge of Ukrainian history.

I speak more Ukrainian, listen to more Ukrainian, and support everything Ukrainian more than I have ever done before in my life.