“Ukrainian youth has the energy to change things,” says Mustafa Nayyem, who resigned this summer from his role overseeing Ukraine’s reconstruction agency.

Over a decade ago, his call to action helped to spark the Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine. As war ravages the country, Nayyem hopes a new generation will lead the way forward.

During my reporting trip to Kyiv in July 2024, I sat down with 42-year-old Nayyem, an Afghan-Ukrainian politician, former journalist, and activist. A month earlier, he had resigned from his post as chairman of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, citing “systemic obstacles” that had made his work difficult.

Now, Nayyem has taken a new role as a senior advisor on anti-corruption and infrastructure recovery, while also teaching at the Kyiv School of Economics. But it’s his work with young people that excites him most.

“Young people have the freedom and luxury to make mistakes,” he told Harbingers’ Magazine. “That’s why they should bring their ideas to the older generations, especially in times like these when the country relies too much on old ways.”

Nayyem is no stranger to the power of youth-led movements. He is often credited with igniting the 2013 Euromaidan protests through a simple Facebook post.

When then-president Viktor Yanukovych paused the signing of an association agreement with the European Union, Nayyem called on his fellow Ukrainians to meet at Kyiv’s Maidan (Independence Square). His call resonated with thousands, sparking months of protests that eventually led Yanukovych to flee Kyiv.

Reflecting on his role in the Maidan, Nayyem remains humble. “It’s not something that can be done by one person,” he said. “We were just journalists; our role was to inspire. The execution was more important.”

The protests may have been the spark, but the collective action of Ukraine’s people brought change.

Youth in times of war

Now, amid war, Nayyem sees a new kind of bravery emerging among Ukraine’s youth. For many, starting families has become a form of resistance, a way of asserting life in the face of destruction. According to Nayyem, marrying and having children is a unique form of fighting.

“It’s very brave. I understand that in some sense, it’s a response to the reality that life is short, and we only live once.”

At the same time, the toll of the war is undeniable. Nayyem spoke somberly about the immense human cost. “The people who died first were the most passionate, and that is a big loss for our generation and our country,” he said.

One positive development has been the rise of online education, which Nayyem believes is essential in these circumstances. He highlighted the work of Oksen Lisovyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Education, a combat veteran working hard to expand learning opportunities for young people nationwide. Before the conflict, Lisovyi was a schoolteacher, and even while in the army, he taught his students via phone from the frontline, according to Nayyem.

“I hope someday we will have a professional army, and we won’t be forced to mobilise the whole country,” Nayyem said. Currently, the mobilisation in Ukraine starts at the age of 25. “But for now, online education helps maintain some normalcy for students.”

Preparing for an uncertain future

When asked about Ukraine’s future, Nayyem remains pragmatic. “Nobody knows how long the war will last,” he said, “but what’s more important is understanding how to avoid this risk in the future because Russia is just at the border.”

Despite the uncertainty, Nayyem encourages young Ukrainians to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. “Everyone should understand their role in this process, whether it’s communication, cooking, cleaning, or even logistics,” he said. “Even lawyers can be drafted to help.”

He believes that this sensitivity is key to bringing about meaningful change.

As our conversation came to an end, Nayyem left me with a parting thought: “Prepare yourself for the worst scenario that can happen. Our history shows that even standing for peace, you must be prepared to fight.”