Milwaukee Shows Support for Ukraine in Time of Need

A cloudy morning brought natural light that poured through the colorful stain glass windows, enhancing the flower in the center. The loudness of the main doors closing behind another church member is short-term as utter silence takes precedent in the St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic church.

Before the 10 a.m. Mass began on Sunday, March 6, woeful church members trickled through the pews awaiting the service. At the altar, two boys, one in a white shirt and the other in a tan jacket, were on their knees in deep prayer. The power of prayer filled the church-like silence, quiet yet dominant over the noise of the church doors slamming.

On Feb.24, 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine with relentless attacks that sent the Ukrainian citizens fearing for their lives and watching their cities crumble. This devastation has impacted many within the Ukrainian community, especially in Milwaukee.

St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Orthodox Catholic Church are the only two Ukrainian churches in Milwaukee. Parishioners from both churches have taken time to gather in prayer and donate during these difficult times.  

“When the first raids happened, the whole community was in shock because all of us couldn’t get our emotions together to really comprehend what was happening. The first couple of days were tears and sorrow,” said choir parishioner Anya Nakonechna.

With 3 to 4,000 Ukrainian immigrants and people of descent present within the city of Milwaukee, it’s a time of need that has brought the community closer together.  

“The community started to get together and protest when Chicago started their meetings, and we sort of relate to Chicago because they have a full Ukrainian village there and anything that starts there, it sort of branches into us,” said Nakonechna.

Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson attended Sunday’s mass to show Milwaukee’s support for the Ukrainian community and address the many questions and concerns the congregation had.

“We are bringing attention to the issue that’s happening in Ukraine by lighting the Hone Bridge. I’m encouraging Milwaukeeans to work with the charity of their choice to make sure that they are able to provide resources to people on the ground in Ukraine,” said Johnson. “I have been supportive certainly of the international efforts that have been coming in order to sanction and isolate Vladimir Putin, the oligarchs in Russia and the entire Russian regime for what it is they’re doing in Ukraine as well.”

Ukrainian members have gathered to do their part in helping put together supplies, hold prayer and Mass services, organize rallies and donations to support the many families, friends, neighbors and refugees in Ukraine.

“We gathered a lot of humanitarian resources for the army, many people have started to donate for the army because Ukraine right now needs technical equipment, or they need bulletproof vests. These are the type of things that we can’t really order on Amazon like they sell it but it’s not very high quality,” said Nakonechna. “The best resource right now is to donate stuff and that’s what’s happening right now at the moment. So much organization is going on and that’s what Milwaukee is doing, so all the things that we have here we are driving it over to Chicago and they’re handling it over there.”

Parish Council Vice President Joseph Spolowicz wants more support provided to Ukrainian citizens to help protect their freedoms from the Russian army.

“I hope on a federal level that we can provide more support, maybe air support, more weapons, getting Ukraine an expedition of getting Ukraine in the European Union. These are not ordinary times and there have to be ways to deal with this without following the normal protocols because nothing is normal about this right now,” Spolowicz said. “So, we have to sidestep some of those protocols to preserve lives and to preserve the country, to preserve freedom, to preserve democracy and that’s what it’s all about.”

The Hone Bridge lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag is just one of the many ways Milwaukee has shown support to the Ukrainian community. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Admirals have also welcomed the Ukrainian community to spread awareness by showcasing Ukrainian songs and collecting donations for the relief fund. On Saturday, March 12, Collectivo was set to host a benefit concert with performances of Ukrainian songs and poems to help raise donations.

Milwaukee’s continuous support displays gratitude and provides a welcoming community to all refugee families with open arms.

“At the city of Milwaukee, we work closely with the international institutions as well as Catholic charities so that when refugees come from Ukraine that they are able to find a home here in Milwaukee,” said Johnson. “That was mentioned here today that there was already a family that’s found their way from Ukraine to Milwaukee that way, so we will continue to make sure that those efforts and opportunities are available.”

The Ukrainian community members urge others to recognize the importance of spreading awareness and support for Ukraine. Ukrainian citizens are witnessing a brutal war with horrific devastation that’s tearing apart their country and lives.

“We hope that peace comes as quickly as possible, we are touched by the banding together of the community. When they see their terror going on in our homeland of Ukraine, it tears us apart,” said Spolowicz. “I think one of my friends here described it as, watching your house on fire with family in there and you can’t do anything about it. That touched my heart to hear that but that’s clearly what is going on.”

Many are left fleeing from their homes for their own safety, hiding in a shelter or seeking refuge among other countries to escape the horror of the Russian military. 

“People can get on the various websites St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church or they can donate so we can raise enough funds to get medical equipment, clothing and supplies. People are in the streets; they’re living in subways and they’re leaving their homes,” said Spolowicz. They’re leaving one city to go to another city and taking with what they have on their backs often because they’re fleeing war, they’re fleeing for their lives.”

Other citizens are standing together to fight for their country by enlisting into the Ukrainian army to fight back against Russian troops, to protect Ukraine.

 “My point today, my speech was that what we are fighting for right now in Ukraine is sometimes what we have here is taken for granted, it’s our fundamental freedoms. Freedoms of choosing our own elected officials, freedom of choosing our own destiny, said Official ambassador of the sister city of Irpin Boris Nayflish. “I’m really honored how Irpin citizens stand up together and really fight that they cannot win. They know that, that they cannot fight off the Russian military machine, they are not military. Most of them, 70% of defenders of Irpin right now are not military, they are regular folks, students, mostly students, engineers, regular city workers, teachers, medical personnel. They are all baring arms right now and that shows courage. They could live, but they choose to stand and fight.”

It’s a critical humanitarian crisis that resonates with the world. No one was prepared for this type of catastrophic event, resulting in a panic to provide enough resources and aid for the Ukrainian citizens and troops.

Support Ukraine donations are collected through the PayPal link below or credit card. In-person donations can be dropped off at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church or mailed to the Ukrainian Relief Fund.