Liberty student builds friendship with Ukrainian college student as English tutor

While millions of people around the world have kept their eyes on the news feeds over the past week for updates on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Liberty University pre-law sophomore Colton Hughes has witnessed the horrific event through the eyes of a friend, a 21-year-old Ukrainian student who he has taught English to online for over a year.

Hughes and “Sophia” (a name used for her safety) were partnered through Engin, a nonprofit organization that pairs Ukrainian students with English-speaking peers for free online conversation practice and cross-cultural connection. Hughes joined the program to help meet his Christian Community Service (CSER) hours, a requirement for Liberty students. For one hour a week, the two students on opposite ends of the globe talk over Zoom.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Hughes and Sophia had their weekly call and talked briefly about the possibility of Russia launching an attack, but Hughes said it didn’t feel like an unusual conversation. Just a few hours later, (early Thursday morning for Sophia), explosions could be heard near her home in Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv. She messaged Hughes, unsure of what to do, and after not hearing from her for close to 24 hours, Hughes received a message from Sophia saying she had fled to a village with some relatives.

With an internet connection still available in the village, something that could change at any moment, Sophia has been able to message with Hughes every day with updates on her situation.

“It’s just so much more real,” Hughes said. “I always read the news and see the different crises in different parts of the world, but when you see the news while you’re getting messages from someone who is experiencing those same things, it really drives it home so much more.”

Hughes has shared encouraging reminders that he and his fellow Liberty students are praying for the people of Ukraine. When Liberty’s student body prayed together for Ukraine in last Friday’s Convocation, Hughes sent her a video of the thousands of Christian young people asking God to protect her and her neighbors.

“I’ve appreciated Liberty so much as I’ve seen the support for Ukraine on campus,” he said. “I’ve gone outside after texting with her, seen the lights in blue and yellow (the Ukraine flag) on the Freedom Tower, and I sent her pictures of it. I’ve been really proud to go to Liberty with all that they’ve been doing.”

They have shared light messages too. Knowing how much Sophia likes animals, he sent her a video of the geese by the pond near the Jerry Falwell Library. Hughes said he’s thankful for the opportunity to do what he can to help her.

When the war began, Engin encouraged Hughes and other Americans in the program to share their connections to Ukraine with the media. Not long after he sent out emails to news organizations in Lynchburg and his home state of Texas, Hughes received multiple interview requests and has now shared about Sophia with four different news outlets.

“I’m no expert on Ukraine, but I care about (Sophia), and I have been honored to share her story,” Hughes said. “Something other stories didn’t share is that Sophia has been asking me constantly for prayer. Over our meetings for the last year, we’ve talked about a lot of different topics and I’ve brought up God sometimes. She and everyone else need so much prayer right now.”

Last night, Sophia shared that she heard explosions nearby and Hughes was joined by students on his dorm hall in praying for safety. The explosions stopped just a few minutes later.