Vsetecka has been studying Ukrainian politics and history for years, only to live through a part of it when Russia invaded Ukraine in February. His interest began during an undergraduate class on Soviet history and was further peaked by a lecture on historical famines in Ukraine.

“That lecture set me on a trajectory that brought me to where I am right now,” Vsetecka said.

Through his years of studying the nation, Vsetecka became intimately familiar with Ukraine, having the opportunity to visit the country several times, and becoming fluent in the language, as well. 

Vsetecka has explored the Carpathian Mountains, studied in the city of Lviv and befriended his fellow Ukrainian students and teachers. This October, Vsetecka lived in the capital city of Kyiv, a city that’s seen a series of bombing and air strikes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to claim the city, and thus victory, in his invasion. 

“Bombings were taking place just a few blocks from where I lived,” Vsetecka said. “I’m not actually sure if the apartment that I was living in is still there.”

Before the war, Vsetecka said he spent his days in Kyiv studying at libraries and archives, and his evenings exploring the up-and-coming craft beer scene or grilling by the river with friends. They hiked and camped, taking advantage of the accessible travel and expansive forests in the area. They grabbed coffee, listened to live music and attended art galleries. 

This was normal life in Ukraine before the war. Even as Russian troops began to amass at the borders, Vsetecka never expected it to impact his day-to-day life. 

Vsetecka returned to Ukraine in January after a quick trip home for Christmas to rumors of troops increasing at the border. Though the U.S. embassy made citizens aware of the potential risk, Vsetecka didn’t think it was enough to head back home at that point. 

“I remember thinking, like, there’s a lot more chatter about the troop build-up, and I thought, 'Man, I hope I don’t go back and then have to leave,'” Vsetecka said.

Three weeks after returning to Ukraine, Vsetecka was evacuated. It was a completely normal day, at first — helping a friend purchase a crib for their new baby, hanging out with other American researchers over plates of Georgian food. 

“That night I got the message that we were going to have to leave in two days. … In 72 hours, I had to basically clean up my life in Ukraine and get out of there,” Vsetecka said.

This was the start of a chaotic few weeks that were full of uncertainty, Vsetecka said. He said he gave away many of his belongings and hopped on a flight to Poland with other Fulbright students. Within a course of a week, Vsetecka had gone from a Ukrainian apartment to a Polish hotel, to a longer term AirBnB. 

Then, the war officially began. Vsetecka said his friends with the newborn baby made a harrowing journey to Poland, living in bomb shelters and crossing checkpoints. Once they arrived in Poland, they joined Vsetecka in his new apartment, along with another friend. 

“We had four adults and a baby living in a one-bedroom in Warsaw," Vsetecka said. "We called it our little commune."

Then, Vsetecka started doing everything he could to help the humanitarian effort. He and his friends would drive to the Ukrainian border and give rides to refugees into Warsaw. They donated clothes and medicine, helped refugees access their money and find housing and even jobs. 

“It was really just a civilian-organized operation,” said Vsetecka, as he witnessed many of his friends take time off of work and empty their life savings to donate money and help other refugees. 

In Ukraine, all men aged 18-60 have been drafted to serve in the military, and that included some of Vsetecka’s friends. 

“It's wild to see people that were helping me with my academic research now in fatigues and, you know, wearing balaclavas and holding guns, and they don't want to be doing this in the sense of like, they want to live their life. But they're absolutely going to do what they have to do to defend their country,” he said.

Vsetecka arrived back in Lansing at the end of March, having to leave many people that he cared about. 

While Vsetecka said he is worried about those he had to leave in Ukraine, he also said, “There's a lot of resolve in those people. They're very brave, but they're stubborn. They have to be. Look at what happened, look at their history.”

“It was really just figuring out how to say goodbye in all capacities of life to Ukraine,” he said.

The transition from living in the midst of war to moving back to a college town has been difficult for Vsetecka. 

“Once I got on the plane from Poland, my body just kind of decompressed. I felt almost just sick immediately, because I think my body was shutting down and recuperating, and I'm still recuperating,” Vsetecka said. “So, it's been a shock to get back to the U.S. where everyday life doesn't revolve around the war in Ukraine. Every TV isn't on CNN … 24/7.”

Vsetecka is continuing his way toward his doctorate degree; despite the several obstacles he now faces. 

“I'm having a really hard time integrating back into that rhythm of life, and still being expected to produce chapters for my dissertation,” he said.

On top of the trauma that Vsetecka has endured, some of the archives that he was working in have been bombed by Russians or are in danger of being bombed. Those resources will never be available for research again. 

After obtaining his Ph.D., Vsetecka said he plans to teach European and Ukrainian history, which now includes the 2022 Russian invasion and war on Ukraine. 

“I will inevitably teach about this war,” he said. He has already appeared on virtual panels and classrooms to share about the relief work that he was involved in. 

As for what students can do to support Ukraine, Vsetecka encourages students to educate themselves about the issue, give what they can and show solidarity when possible. 

He said he believes that while it’s OK to not know everything about Ukraine, “Don’t leave Ukraine off your mental map. … Understand that it's a country that's in many ways, not-so-different from the lives that we live in here. There are people with jobs and friends that do the same things we do.”