Ukrainian student celebrates graduating from University of Bolton as parents look proudly on

A Ukrainain student who has graduated with a first class degree from the University of Bolton said he was “proud” to accept the honour as his parents looked on.



The capacity audience cheered as Volodymyr Bezpalchuk, draped in the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, was presented his certificate by Pro Chancellor Brett Warburton at the first graduation ceremony of the week in the Albert Hall in Bolton Town Hall.



The 20-year-old was watched by proud mum and dad Iurii and Lidiia who travelled from their home town of Zhytomyr, 60 miles west of Kiev, to see their son graduate with a first in automotive engineering, which he studied at the University’s National Centre for Motorsport Engineering.



Volodymyr, who shares the same first name as the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zeleneskyy, said: “I am so thankful to my parents for being able to come and see me today.

“It has been a very worrying time as they have been in the Ukraine since the war began. They have seen and heard bombs exploding.”


Iurii and Lidiia spend much of their time loading vehicles with essential supplies such as water and food and then delivering them to badly hit areas of the war-torn country.

They recently made a trip to the town of Kershon just after the dam had been blown up.



Volodymyr’s father, who cannot speak English, said via his son that was very proud to be at today’s ceremony.



And afterwards, University of Bolton President and Vice Chancellor Professor George E Holmes DL, met Volodymyr and congratulated him.



He said: “Well done, it is a fantastic achievement. We in the UK cannot imagine the pain and suffering of everyone in the Ukraine and we support you wholeheartedly.”