- December 19, 2025
- 4:57 pm
- Ukraine
The story of Maya Rybnikova: from occupied Lugansk to Haifa.
A significant event for the Ukrainian diaspora took place in Haifa, in the heart of Israel.
The Embassy of Ukraine handed over the state award on December 19, 2024 “Honored Teacher of Ukraine” Maya Rybnikova is a math teacher from Russian-occupied Severodonetsk.
This award is recognition of her many years of work and resilience in the face of war and forced migration.
Maya Rybnikova left her native Lugansk in August 2014, when the Russian occupation made further residence there impossible, writes “Severodonetsk online“.
“I am a mathematics teacher with 28 years of experience. I lived in Lugansk and had no intention of leaving there until they came to release me in 2014. For a long time we hoped that Lugansk would be fired. Therefore, we left the city in August, when there were few options left to leave..”
Since then, Severodonetsk became her home for eight long years.
In 2022, with the start of a full-scale invasion, Maya was forced to flee again.
This time she ended up in Israel, in the city of Haifa, where she continues to teach mathematics online to her students from Ukraine.
Maya Rybnikova is a symbol of dedication to her work and faith in the future. Through her lessons, she inspires high school students even from afar, showing that education is a power that transcends boundaries.
Teaching at a Distance: Challenges and Achievements
Maya Rybnikova, with 28 years of experience, believes that distance learning is not a temporary solution, but a way to preserve the educational process in war conditions.
Her key achievements:
- Every year, Maya's students take the NMT (National Multi-Subject Test) with 200 marks.
- She organized full-fledged online courses for high school students preparing for final exams.
- Maya actively supports the initiative to maintain distance learning for schools in the temporarily occupied territories.
“Education is something that cannot be taken away. It will always stay with you,” says Maya.
“Honored Teacher of Ukraine”: what does this award mean?
For Maya Rybnikova, the title “Honored Teacher of Ukraine” is not just an honorary recognition, but an incentive to continue working and helping students, despite the distance.
» Not exactly the point. There is still some way to go. I don’t want to have defeats, I want to be in shape. For example, I was upset, although I expected it, that the 200-point results this year are much lower than last year. And it’s as if you understand that it’s not your fault, but you’re always haunted by the thought that you could have done better.
This title was never my goal. This is definitely not a piece of paper that I will wave around everywhere. And it has nothing to do with the quality of my work. I worked without a title, and I still work with it. But honestly, it’s nice!“,” Maya shares.
Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tel Aviv: a bridge between Israel and Ukraine
The award ceremony took place in Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tel Avivwhich became an important link between Ukrainian and Jewish cultures.
“There are a lot of pleasant, solemn moments in the work of a diplomat. One of them is in these photos. Yesterday in Haifa I had the honor to present the state award “Honored Teacher of Ukraine” to Maya Rybnikova,” wrote Zoryan Kis, coordinator Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tel Aviv
The Center actively supports Ukrainians forced to leave their homeland, providing a platform for dialogue, cultural exchange and preservation of national identity.
“At the request of the Lugansk Regional State Administration, the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel had the honor to present the state award “Honored Teacher of Ukraine” to Mrs. Maya Rybnikova, a teacher at the Severodonetsk Multidisciplinary Lyceum in the Lugansk Region of Ukraine.” – noted a representative of the center.
“Ukraine and Israel share the values of freedom and education. The story of Maya Rybnikova is an example of how two cultures can inspire each other,” we will add, NAnews.
Why is this story important to Israelis?
The Ukrainian community in Israel is one of the most active. The story of Maya Rybnikova resonates with Israelis, because it reflects values that are close to both nations:
- Family and home. Like the Jewish people, Ukrainians know what it means to lose a home.
- Education. Teachers in both cultures are revered as guardians of knowledge.
- Dream of return. Just as Jews dreamed of returning to Israel, Maya dreams of seeing a free Severodonetsk.
Prospects and hopes
Maya Rybnikova believes in the future of her homeland and dreams of returning to the Ukrainian Severodonetsk.
“I am sure that one day we will open the doors of our lyceum again. This will be a victory day for all of Ukraine,” she says.
Support for Ukrainians in Israel
Website NAnews – Israel News has repeatedly covered the initiatives of the Ukrainian community in Israel, emphasizing their contribution to strengthening relations between our peoples.
The story of Maya Rybnikova is a reminder that strength of spirit and the desire to teach can overcome any boundaries.
“We believe that Ukraine and Israel will inspire each other to new achievements. Together we are stronger,” notes the editors of NAnovosti.
This story shows how personal example can become a symbol of the unity of two peoples.
Ukraine and Israel, teacher and student, dream and reality – all this is united in the fate of one strong woman.
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