‘From A War Zone To An MBA’: Stanford Students Successfully Deliver Equipment To Ukraine

‘SLEEP WAS ALWAYS INTERRUPTED BY AIR SIRENS’

Once entering Ukraine, it took them a total of two days to arrive at Kryvyi Rih. On their first day of travel, they had minimal checkpoints or interruption as they moved through western and central Ukraine, which was far from the frontlines.

The next morning was their final push to their destination. According to Molchynsky, this is when the realities of the war started to hit. “We began observing soldiers and military equipment being transported in different regions of the country,” he says. “Sleep was always interrupted by air sirens and the air force.”

‘SIGNS OF CONFLICT & WAR BECAME UBIQUITOUS’

For Molchynsky, the return to his home country was ‘bittersweet.’ “It was surreal,” he says. “We were traveling through the beautiful countryside, with rolling hills and a picturesque landscape. But as we neared closer to my hometown, signs of conflict and war became ubiquitous.”

“You don’t know what to expect,” he continues. “That was the bitter part. You don’t know how to behave or address these new realities. There were a lot of unknowns. Because of this, It seemed like a very familiar – yet unfamiliar place.”

ARRIVING IN KRYVYI RIH

On the night of August 21, they arrived at their final destination — just in time for Ukraine’s Independence Day happening on August 24 when they planned to deliver the equipment. “Independence Day this year was very subdued,” says Molchynsky. “There were no celebrations, since officials wanted to avoid public events and not put anyone in danger.”

Molchynsky recounts that the people of his hometown gave the Project Independence Day team a warm welcome and showed gratitude for their delivery; two teammates even made appearances on the local news. “People were extremely happy to have received the two vehicles,” continues Molchynsky. “They were also happy to see foreigners; what I understood from officials is that very few volunteers have come in-person to give anything.”

Shortly after their delivery, Molchynsky woke up to a long range artillery strike 10 minutes away from the team’s headquarters on the morning of August 25. Thankfully, the entire Project Independence Day team was safe.

‘FROM A WAR ZONE TO AN MBA’

Throughout their journey, Clark and Molchynsky say they received a ton of support from Stanford — specifically from the school’s media team, who helped to spread the word and land them features in NBC Bay Area and The Stanford Daily. “I also received a few messages from professors,” says Molchynsky. “And of course, our classmates sent us supportive messages, too.”

As the team prepares to deliver the third ambulance, Clark and Molchynsky also prepare to enter their final year at the GSB. “It’s a surreal feeling to have Project Independence Day wrapping up,” says Clark. “We’re coming from a war zone to an MBA program, which is quite the contrast.”

For Molchynsky, he’s taking life “day by day” and still processing the experience as he enters his final year. For Clark, he shares that his perspective on life – and career – has been altered since this experience. According to him, Project Independence Day has deepened his desire to create an impact. He plans on exploring opportunities to continue doing so before graduating in 2023,. “I don’t know what that will be yet, but I have this year to figure it out,” he says.

DON’T MISS THESE STANFORD MBAs ARE RAISING FUNDS TO BRING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE and STANFORD MBA STUDENTS COLLECT MILLIONS’ WORTH OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR UKRAINE