Not even a war can stop Ukrainian kids from dreaming big with robotics

In a world where war rages on, Ukrainian children are determined to let their dreams soar. Anna Tieliehina, a 14-year-old from Ukraine, and Oles Letyta, 12, have proven that even amidst turmoil, they can excel in the field of robotics. The two students recently secured victory in a national robotics competition for children and teenagers in Ukraine and journeyed to Seoul to take part in the International Programming Robot Challenge.

Anna's robot is specialized in pathfinding and object carrying. The device earned the highest accuracy during the initial round, which involved finding a box in a maze and relocating it to a designated spot. When quizzed about her robot's success, Anna explained how she meticulously adjusted the robot's path after noticing errors during the first round. Oles, on the other hand, operates a remote-controlled shooting robot, which swiftly picked up a die and propelled it forward, eliminating the target with ease.

Both Anna and Oles began their foray into robotics at a young age. Anna's interest in computer programming ignited after her school introduced her to it during her seventh-grade year. She quickly developed her skills and eventually became the first female student to claim victory in the Ukrainian national robotics qualifiers. Oles, inspired by his older brother, started making robots after winning the Ukrainian qualifiers last year. His passion for robotics grew as he dedicated many hours to designing and refining his creations.

Despite the hardships imposed by the ongoing war, these young innovators remain resolute in their pursuit of success. Air raid sirens have become a daily occurrence, forcing them to seek refuge in underground shelters. Even close encounters with Russian drones add to the challenges they face. To make matters worse, Ukraine has sealed its airspace due to Russian strikes, requiring the children to travel via land to reach Korea – a journey that involved multiple transfers.

Despite the numerous obstacles, Anna and Oles are determined to continue their robotics endeavors. Anna aspires to become an engineer or programmer, focusing on creating programs for robots and applications that would benefit society. Meanwhile, Oles dreams of perfecting his robot and entering a new competition. His ultimate goal is to develop a robot that would help clean the streets of his hometown, Lviv.

In light of the troubling circumstances, we speak to Anna, who hopes that the war will cease so she can continue her studies in Lviv.