War and occupation blocked the way for Crimean applicants to Ukrainian education

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the number of applicants from the occupied Crimea entering Ukrainian universities has decreased dramatically. The main reason is complicated and expensive logistics, as it is now possible to get to the controlled territory of Ukraine only through third countries.

This was reported by Suspilne.Krym with reference to the Permanent Representative of the President in Crimea Olga Kuryshko.

The number of Crimean applicants seeking to study at Ukrainian universities has decreased significantly since the outbreak of full-scale war. While until 2022, about 400 applicants came from the peninsula every year, in 2024 there were only 57.

According to Kuryshko, one of the main reasons is the complexity of logistics: previously it was possible to cross the administrative border with Kherson region, but now it is necessary to get there through third countries, which requires adult escort, significant time and money. Because of this, the actual number of applicants is much lower than the request.

The official also emphasized that it is necessary to develop a stable and clear system of communication with applicants from the occupied Crimea.

Since June 1, Ukraine has been running an admission campaign for residents of the temporarily occupied territories - until September 30, they can enter universities without NMT and Ukrainian documents under a simplified procedure. In the first six months of 2025, the President's Office received 75 applications from Crimeans regarding education, document recognition, and admission to Ukrainian schools and universities.

At the same time, in the annexed Crimea, the occupation authorities are campaigning in educational institutions, urging students to sign contracts with the Russian armed forces. Representatives of military enlistment offices visit educational institutions and offer young people to choose contract service instead of conscript service in order to recruit "volunteers" to be sent to the front.

Also, in the temporarily occupied Crimea, parents cannot enroll their children in school without a stamp of Russian citizenship or a residence permit on their birth certificate. These new requirements have emerged after changes in Russian legislation aimed at tightening control over so-called "migrants" and their children.

Анна Бальчінос