Chicagoans reflect on six months of war in Ukraine

August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day. This year, the holiday takes on a new meaning: It also marks six months to the day since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Don’t forget about us. Don’t forget about the mothers that had to write their family information on the backs of their toddlers in case they died.” — Dania Hrynewycz at WBEZ’s Ukrainian Village open mic event

WBEZ recently held an open mic in Ukrainian Village, which drew Ukrainians, Ukrainian-Americans, and other Chicagoans with ties to Ukraine. Olha Tsvyntarna shared her experience growing up in Ukraine under Soviet rule and being forced to speak Russian. She came to Chicago at the start of the war earlier this year. “I’m very grateful to Ukrainian diaspora here in Chicago and all over the world because these are the people who saved our history,” Tsvyntarna said.

At the event, community members performed and shared stories of leaving Ukraine, sitting with fear and anger over the invasion and helping where they can. Earlier this year, Harrison Jozefowicz quit his job and school to volunteer on the ground in Ukraine. “It goes to show that there are still people that care,” Jozefowicz told Reset. “Just because it’s not your country or you don’t speak their language, you can immensely change how somebody lives their lives.”

In this special hour of coverage, Reset speaks with a WBEZ reporter and three people who shared their stories at the event.

GUESTS: Anna Savchenko, WBEZ reporter, moderator of the WBEZ open mic event

Olha Tsvyntarna, Ukrainian who fled the war and participated in the open mic event

Dania Hrynewycz, vice-president of the Ukrainian Club at Loyola University Chicago

Harrison Jozefowicz, co-founder and president of Task Force Yankee