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The gesture on senior night meant a great deal to Shulga, making him feel at home in Richmond, Virginia despite being far from his native Ukraine, as the country continues to experience unrest three years following Russia’s invasion.
“It’s been all love since I transferred here [from Utah State] two years ago,” Shulga says. “I see it every game, and everywhere out here in Richmond. I really appreciate it and it shows a lot about our fanbase. It’s just one big family, and everybody supports each other.”
With his immediate family members still residing in Kyiv, the entire VCU community has found meaningful ways to show solidarity for Shulga, from chanting “Slava Ukraini,” a salute that translates to “Glory to Ukraine,” to preparing a meal that reminds him of home.
Days before senior night, VCU’s executive chef Jennifer Taylor surprised Shulga by serving him borscht, a signature Ukrainian dish.
“He walked in and he didn’t know it was coming,” VCU’s head coach Ryan Odom said during a recent press conference. “He saw the big pot, and he said, ‘If I grew up in America, there’s not a chance I would be eating this. But I grew up in Kyiv and I love it!’ He said his mom would make it once a week. He sat there and had a cup with his teammates, which is a neat thing.”
On the court, Shulga, a 6ft 5in guard, was named this week as the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. Beyond sports, Shulga represents the resilience of his homeland as uncertainty surrounds Ukraine and US political relations, even after Tuesday’s announcement of a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia.
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