Sixteen Japanese universities have teamed up to accept students fleeing war-torn Ukraine to help them rekindle hopes of building a future that seemed impossible following the Russian invasion.

The colleges, including International Christian University (ICU), Meiji University and Sophia University, plan to offer approximately 70 students free education and a safe environment to study.

They will offer short-term programs of between one and one-and-a-half years, following which some will also offer degree programs.