Two years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I interviewed political researcher, humanitarian, and impact-driven founder Angelika Sharygina, displaced by the war in Ukraine. Being half Ukrainian and half Afghan, the invasion was not Angelika’s first experience of war. Angelika was actually Ireland’s first Ukrainian refugee. She recounts her unexpected journey from a business conference in the Middle East to seeking refuge in Ireland amidst the turmoil of war. With a background in humanitarian work and a passion for combating misinformation, Angelika quickly became immersed in Ireland’s tech community, finding support from organisations like The Web Summit and Techfugees. Determined to make a difference, she embarked on a mission to combat disinformation, help Ukraine win information warfare and created a startup aimed at protecting children from harmful content online. Through her experiences and connections, Angelika emphasises the importance of collective action in combating misinformation and protecting vulnerable communities, while expressing her gratitude to Ireland and its people for their kindness and support.

1. Can you tell me the circumstances of how you found yourself in Ireland?

Techfugees, with their incredible global efforts and support, organised my own evacuation, and within 24 hours I was connected to an incredible network of support in Ireland. 

But prior to this, I had to decide where I wanted to go. I chose Ireland because I was told that they are the kindest people in the world, and they have such great unity and so much kind-heartedness and compassion in one country. I went through passport control, and they said, “Welcome to Ireland; you are the first one.”

I had no idea where to stay, where to go, or what I was going to do now. At the time, I was in total denial about what was happening. Having a background in War Studies, I was aware of geopolitical tensions, yet it was still shocking when missiles hit your home. Techfugees connected me to The Web Summit, and they showed exceptional support and advocacy for the cause. Their proactive legal initiatives aimed at transforming airline corporate policies to support women with small children and make evacuation easier were both inspiring and impactful. This gesture of solidarity and the team’s unwavering assistance helped a lot. I have so much gratitude to the Irish people as a nation, they did so much for me, and I know I made the right choice. I managed to extend this support and organise evacuations, and many families were able to find safety and security in Ireland. 

2. Before you left Ukraine what were you doing?

My work has been at the intersection of political sector, tech and humanitarian projects. I specialised in strategic policy advisory and impact-driven technologies while promoting responsible AI use with a human-centred approach. Upon graduation from the Master’s Program in War Studies department at King’s College London, I returned to Ukraine to shape new policies and promote innovative solutions for good. I established many initiatives to promote cross-governmental collaboration and partnerships for UN global goals and supported refugees across the world in their efforts to contribute to hosting states.

3. After you arrived in Ireland how did you go about continuing your research?

When I arrived in Ireland, I asked myself, “How can I help in the war?” In times of war and crisis, access to information can save lives. Misinformation, particularly targeted disinformation, can lead to unsafe circumstances and is often used by malicious actors to sow division and violence. Human traffickers are targeting vulnerable populations across the world, especially women and children, and information integrity in these cases can determine whether the person is kidnapped or not. This sounds extreme, but unfortunately, this is a reality in war zones. I started thinking on a different level. “How can I protect people as the evacuation is taking place?” I went to Trinity College Dublin, Global Brain Health Institute, and proposed my research. Prof. Dominic Trepel and Prof. Rachel Hoare supported my mission and provided exceptional guidance and supervision for me. I decided to do a deep dive into research and look into scientific approaches to disinformation. In September 2022, I started my research and examined how disinformation is, in fact, a virus that spreads at unprecedented rates. My goal is to apply medical interventions and translate them into the public domain. I am determined to find a cure for misinformation online and help stop infodemic that affects the world.

4. Can you tell me more about your Start-Up? What’s its purpose and how are you looking to roll it out?

Children are the most vulnerable in war zones. The techniques that the malicious actors want to push into warzones are now being implemented into communication in so-called ‘stable countries’. This can lead to extremism. My experience in war zones taught me that this malicious information could be spread to hate groups and continue the spread of misinformation online. We are seeing this grow more and more in our daily lives, and this is negatively affecting vulnerable societies.

My startup is the first science-backed toolkit in the form of an interactive game to help teach young children to protect their minds from harmful content, misinformation, and social media influence.

5. How have you gone about building the business and your network while you are in Ireland? Were there any people or organisations that have been a huge help to you?

It all started with Techfugees, I wouldn’t be in Ireland without them. The Web Summit is the first company that comes to mind. It’s this massive platform for good and for change, and these people helped me so much. Techstars Weekend powered my mission to create and innovate on the idea I had. 

TechfoundHer, Máirín Murray, was one of the first people I met when I arrived here. Her dedication to supporting refugees and her efforts to empower female entrepreneurs are beyond inspiring. I learned a lot from her efforts to build a better world. One of the things I learned is that unity within communities can shape a better world. The tech community gave me so much power and kindness. I learned a lot from her efforts to build a better world. It can’t be explained how important it was to find other impact-driven people to help power my mission. Furkan Kurayel is a champion of diversity and inclusion and is an inspiring writer. Her role as a mentor and role model is invaluable. Furkan’s journey, marked by resilience, intelligence, and compassion, inspired me so much to strive for a more equitable and inclusive world.

Also, the Irish government, led by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, – Ireland was one of the first countries in the world to open their doors to Ukrainians, and we will be forever grateful for this.

Sorry if I forgot anyone else! 

6. What events in Ireland or abroad have you been invited to? How has this impacted your research?

Following this, I took part in a hackathon in Dublin in March 2023 for the Techstars Weekend, which was under the incredible leadership of Leyla Karaha. We were selected as one of the winners. This was amazing in how it helped shape my start-up and create a mission and vision for the company. There were so many people that were there that helped, whether it was inspiring contestants like Louisamay, Jennifer, mentors (including Barry, this is where we met), Lorraine, Loimar, Deidre, or the judges.

There were also tech-specific events around AI and information integrity. I spoke on a panel for the Diversity in Tech Awards, was a panellist at the Dublin Tech Summit and was honoured to be part of the Irish delegation at InvestherSummit in Paris.

7. Not only are one half affected by conflict in your homeland, but you’re also half Afghan. Can you tell me how the experience of the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 affected the research you are doing?

I still have family in Afghanistan. During the evacuation in 2021, there was a lot of chaos, violence, misinformation, and targeted disinformation. There were a lot of issues with the safety and security of people. This was disproportionately targeted at women and children. I firmly believe that the purpose of my life’s work has been to find ways to resolve conflicts and to aid those who are suffering from the terrible effects of wars, conflicts, or other crises on the ground. With approximately 28 active conflicts around the world, there is a need for humanity to speak up on these issues. I believe the war has no race, colour, or creed. Everyone deserves to be treated equally. Every conflict deserves the same amount of attention. Geopolitically, there are a lot of issues with the perception of certain conflicts, but it’s of absolute urgency for people to wake up. By 2030, there will be 1.3 billion refugees due to climate change.

Standing tall against the stark reality of climate change demands resilience, strength, courage, and compassion. It’s a lesson deeply etched in me by my mentor, Raj Burman, Executive Director of Climate Clock and prior CEO of Techfugees. As millions face displacement due to this escalating climate crisis, no one is immune. Time is short, and unprecedented challenges demand unprecedented unity. Empathy and cooperation across borders and cultures are our only weapons against the combined threats of war, crisis, and climate change. I firmly believe that by inspiring inclusion, fostering shared equity, and harnessing the power of communities globally, we can shape policies that guide us towards a sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference.

8. Apart from the ones you have already mentioned, are there any other companies or people in Ireland that you are big fans of?

Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is a shining example of research excellence. Irish higher education institution Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has a rich history of supporting an active research community that promotes originality, analysis, and development of new ideas. I am happy to be part of the scientific community that tackles difficult global problems and makes groundbreaking discoveries.

Dogpatch Labs’ advice and tools have been very helpful as I’ve navigated the complicated path of becoming an entrepreneur. I’m very grateful for the supportive environment there.

My journey has taken on a new shape since I became part of young leaders at the World Economic Forum Global Shapers in Dublin. The goal of this network of young leaders is to provide innovative solutions to solve the biggest issues in their communities.

If we speak about new Irish-born tech breakthroughs, I am a big fan of Xavatar, positioned at the forefront of the digital evolution in media, the show introduces a concept where viewers can immerse themselves in the Xataverse.

They deeply care about the connective tissue between music and film and how each medium progresses in a world with an increasing digital footprint.I am especially inspired by the amazing journeys and accomplishments of Irish women leaders. They are strong, creative, and dedicated to making the world a better place, these leaders have not only made a big difference in Ireland, but they have also set a standard for leadership around the world.

Nuala Walsh stands out as a strong push for change on this journey. As the creator and CEO of MindEquity, I can say that her brilliance and revolutionary approach to science foster transformations globally, Dr. Lollie Mancey’s contributions to innovation for good have been a great source of motivation and show how important it is to do work with a purpose. Susan Doyle was the first person I met when I got to Ireland. She is a great example of leadership and giving people power from the start. Melanie Boylan’s groundbreaking work and accomplishments are truly impressive and I was touched by her care for future generations. Siobhan Human’s work is remarkable as it brings communities together and powers dialogues for change. Anna Saltykova, is another example of unbeatable resilience with all the work she is doing. The influence of these extraordinary female leaders, along with many others too numerous to mention, has been game-changing for me.

9. Where do you see yourself this time next year?

In a perfect way, with the bigger funding, we can start hiring a bigger team, and we are able to power innovation in every school in Ireland. I have so much gratitude for the Irish people and how they have helped me over the last two years. I would like to contribute to Ireland with programs aimed at schoolchildren so that we can begin to equip them with the knowledge necessary to be better informed about the information that they are viewing online. They need to know the ways malicious actors can distort what they think they are viewing and hearing from what’s actually the reality.

10. Is there a final message you’d like to sign off the interview with?