Ag Economics Professor On Fleeing Her Native Ukraine

Nearly 15 million Ukrainians have fled their homes amid Russia’s invasion of the country, with half of them seeking refuge in other nations. That includes the U.S., where Antonina Broyaka brought her family this spring. Broyaka, who had recently served as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Entrepreneurship at the Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, says the decision to leave was a difficult one.

Broyaka’s family made it to the border with Poland, where the largest number of refugees were exiting Ukraine. She said while her husband returned to duty defending Ukraine, she and her children spent days waiting to cross the border by foot. Broyaka says she’s been able to stay in contact with her husband.

During that time, she received several messages of support from contacts at Kansas State University, where she had previously taught for a year.

Antonina Broyaka has started a new position as a visiting professor in K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Broyaka was interviewed recently by our sister station in Topeka, WIBW.