African students who fled Ukraine last year are reportedly being told to return to the warzone or they will be unable to complete their degrees.
Ukraine's Ministry of Education is claimed to be asking medical students to return to the war-torn country by March 14 to Ukraine to sit an exam.
They must also sign a consent form stating the individual is “responsible for their own safety and life”.
Korrine Sky, Founder of the Africans in Ukraine Education Fund and a Refugee Education Activist, was forced to return to the UK last year after fleeing Ukraine.
She wrote on Twitter: "Reports from students who have gone to Ukraine and the well-documented experiences of students who fled last year give enough evidence to suggest that the Ukrainian government are not concerned with the lives of black and brown students and residents of Ukraine.
Speaking to The Voice, Ms Sky said: “If they do not write this exam they will not be getting their degrees and I just think that is a completely unreasonable ask.
“Especially at such short notice, because some students did return back to Africa or India.
“How are they supposed to raise the money to come back to Ukraine?
“There is an ongoing war, it’s very dangerous and anything could happen to these students.”
Students are claiming the university faculty are threatening that of they are unable to attend the exam they will be expelled and will not receive their diplomas.
Ms Sky was studying medicine at Dnipro Medical Institute, in Ukraine and is British.
She says there are many other Britons who are being told to return, which goes against government advice as the Foreign Office "advises against all travel to Ukraine."
Ms Sky created a website called Africans In Ukraine Education Fund, as an online resource which is providing a list of scholarships, and other practical information to help those in need.
According to Ms Sky, the African students who stayed in other parts of Europe, were given temporary visas and are not considered refugees, but are considered “Third Country Nationals” who are being ordered to leave in the next two weeks – or face deportation.
Ms Sky is now calling on the universities to make their scholarships open to all students – not just Ukrainian nationals – because they are all indirect victims of the war.
Ms Sky revealed to The Voice, she is in touch with 2,000 African students and says many continue to face racism, violence and discrimination in Ukraine right now.
She also wants there to be an option for students to transfer to other universities to complete their studies where it is safe.
Dnipro Medical Institute has been contacted for comment.
