On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of aircraft designer Oleg Antonov’s birth, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy granted the State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” national status and met with its students and faculty.
The Head of State emphasized that the aviation sector, and education in this field in particular, is extremely important for Ukraine.
“This is a priority that was likely overlooked for quite some time. Nevertheless, I want to assure you that the state is focusing on this area. It is crucial for us that the university ranks at the top – and I mean at the global level,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
During the meeting, discussions also covered the development of combat aviation, the future delivery of Gripen and Rafale aircraft, and the advancement of aviation technologies, particularly unmanned systems. The President spoke about the achievements made over the past years and the transition to mass production of various types of drones. According to the Head of State, 450 companies are already involved in this sector.
The meeting also addressed the return of Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country due to Russian aggression. The President noted that this requires continued strengthening of national defense, creating favorable conditions for business, attracting foreign investment, and reviving strong Ukrainian aviation traditions with a focus on quality education.
“We are currently more focused on military aviation – that’s right. Civil aviation is very important as well. That’s true. We will continue to develop military aviation. We are reaching out to the university and are ready to support this direction. I believe it will emerge at a strong level at your university. We are in discussions with the Air Force command. I think you will notice it,” the Head of State added.
In total, over 400 students from various departments attended the meeting. The young people presented Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a hoodie featuring the Kyiv Aviation Institute logo and a model “Zhevzhyk” glider, which is assembled by students in the aviation modelling laboratory at the start of their studies.
Kseniia Semenova, President of the Kyiv Aviation Institute, briefed the Head of State on the development of the university and its future plans, and showcased exhibits of aviation equipment.
