The article highlights the challenges faced by Russian students studying in Germany and German students studying in Russia due to the war in Ukraine. German student Alina A., for example, is deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in her home country.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has suspended all collaborations with Russian universities. Scholarships have been canceled, and transferring money to Russia has become extremely difficult. German student Leon Wohlleben had to cut short his studies in Russia.
The article notes that the Russian academic elite largely supports the war, hindering scientific cooperation. A lecturer in Tomsk, Igor Kochev, faces the challenge of teaching diplomacy to his students in this complex political climate.
The situation significantly impacts the lives and future prospects of students in both countries. The article concludes by emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of the war on academic exchanges and collaborations.