In a moving display of international unity, Chicago played host to a group of Ukrainian soldiers on Friday, illustrating the strong bond between two nations during a weekend dedicated to remembrance.
These Ukrainian soldiers have traveled to Chicago to honor the memory of fallen comrades both at home and abroad as part of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Their visit is marked by a warm reception from the local community, expressing gratitude for the soldiers’ sacrifices amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
For these soldiers, the trip offers a much-needed respite from the relentless realities of war. Around ten active-duty Ukrainian servicemen are in the city to participate in a Soldier Field race scheduled for Saturday. Prior to the event, they embarked on a tour of Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, beginning with a visit to the Ukrainian National Museum.
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The museum features a poignant war exhibit, including a damaged drone and anti-Putin artwork, serving as stark reminders of the conflict back home. Although thousands of miles from the front lines, these exhibits resonate deeply with the visiting soldiers, who are experiencing Chicago and the United States for the very first time.
“All of them are wounded in different situations,” explained Volodymyr Havrylov, a retired Ukrainian Major General and former Deputy Minister of Defense. “They represent different services, starting from the air force to special operation units.”
“All of them are wounded in different situations,” said Volodymyr Havrylov, retired Ukrainian Major General and former Deputy Minister of Defense. “They represent different services, starting from air force to special operation units.”
Havrylov is part of a project to give wounded warriors a mental break through sports.
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The group of soldiers plan to participate in Saturday’s Memorial Day 10 Mile at Soldier Field. Friday, they walked to some of Ukrainian Village’s sites, including the Ukrainian National Museum and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. The war was front and center at both locations.
“We to demonstrate people here that we are not victims in this war. We are victors,” Havrylov said. “Come into the day when we will finally announce everybody that we survive this war.”
Havyrlov says the men he brought together are all from different units. Most have been in the military since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, and again in 2022. No one knew each other in Ukraine, but now in Chicago, they are friends.
There were smiles on their faces as they tried some basketball at the St. Nicholas Cathedral school. One soldier showed off his musical skills.
“I would just praise them for what they have done, being so brave to go on the battlefield, fight for my country, for their country,” St. Nicholas Cathedral student Rostyslav Yevstratenko said.
Ukrainian students ate lunch with the soldiers. It was followed by a prayer service.
“It’s like hard to see them, because it’s like they’re gonna go back, and it’s not that safe, so it’s kind of like scary,” St. Nicholas Cathedral student Zlata Potoki said.
The soldiers will return to the front lines, but Ret. Major General Havyrlov says after their experience in Chicago, the men will go back to Ukraine with hope.
“There, the eyes will be bright. The internal world will change,” Havyrlov said. “They will come to the units absolutely different guys. They will send that message to others that there is the light in the end of the life.”
The soldiers’ day ended in Bloomingdale at the St. Andrew Ukrainian National Church. All the men have been injured in the war. The Soldier Field run on Saturday will include wounded warriors who are amputees.
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