Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York became the venues for the charity tour “Across the Ocean: United in Support of Ukrainian Veterans,” organized by the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America. The primary goal of the tour was to support the Defenders of Ukraine Leadership Center at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, which helps veterans reintegrate into civilian life through education and leadership development.
This was reported by Radio UA Chicago.
The tour brought together three American cities—Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York—and served as a platform for discussions about veteran leadership, the role of education in rebuilding the country, and Ukraine’s future after the war. Traveling to the United States were Yana Chapailo, Director of the Defenders of Ukraine Leadership Center; Mariia Savrun, Director of Development and Partnerships; and veteran Marine Dmytro Ternovyi, one of the first graduates of the Center’s program. Together with Marta Farion, President of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, and Executive Director Mariia Klymchak, they held a series of meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian community, diplomatic institutions, businesses, and educational organizations.
The first stop of the tour was Chicago. The delegation participated in a broadcast on Ukrainian radio station UA Chicago, met with the leadership of Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, and visited Ukrainian churches, the Ukrainian National Museum, and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. The highlight of their stay was a charity evening held at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. The event brought together members of the Ukrainian community from different generations around the themes of supporting veterans and advancing education in Ukraine.
A special guest of the evening was Father Volodymyr Kushnir, a medical chaplain and pastor serving the Ukrainian community, who has supported Ukrainian service members and newly arrived Ukrainians in the United States for many years. The event was opened by the St. Joseph Band brass ensemble under the direction of Ivan Strohush. Ukrainian students currently studying at universities in Chicago after being forced to leave Ukraine because of the war also attended the event.
The next stage of the tour took place in Washington, D.C. Representatives of the Center and the Foundation held a number of meetings with diplomats, representatives of U.S. government institutions, and congressional and senatorial offices. One of the most symbolic moments was a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Ukrainian delegation honored the memory of American service members.
In the U.S. capital, Dmytro Ternovyi met with representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, Dariia Haidai and Kateryna Smagliy, who are also alumni of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. During the meeting, they discussed the development of veteran programs, international partnerships, and opportunities to expand the experience of the Defenders of Ukraine Leadership Center.
Another important meeting took place at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation with Professor Eric Patterson, a veteran of U.S. military campaigns, who expressed his willingness to share his experience with Ukrainian veterans. Meetings were also held in the offices of American lawmakers, including representatives of Senators Richard Durbin, Marcy Kaptur, and Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran and strong advocate for veteran support initiatives.
A charity evening was held at Ukraine House in Washington as part of the tour. The keynote speaker was former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, one of the most consistent American diplomats in supporting Ukraine. Discussions focused on the role of education in helping veterans return to active civic life and the responsibility of the international community in supporting Ukraine. Dmytro Ternovyi shared his personal story—from being wounded near Avdiivka to pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
The final charity event took place at the Ukrainian Institute of America with the participation of diplomats, philanthropists, journalists, and friends of Ukraine. The keynote speaker was former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, John Herbst, who emphasized the importance of supporting Ukrainian veterans and fostering leadership during wartime. Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, also attended the event and expressed support for the work of the Defenders of Ukraine Leadership Center.
Throughout the tour, participants stressed that veterans should become some of the key leaders of postwar Ukraine. Over two years of operation, the Defenders of Ukraine Leadership Center has graduated more than 120 veterans, delivered hundreds of hours of training, and built an extensive network of partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, and international organizations. The Center’s mission is to help defenders transform their military experience into civic and professional leadership.
During the tour, Foundation President Marta Farion presented awards to donors and partners who support educational programs for veterans. Those recognized included the Heritage Foundation of First Security Federal Savings Bank, Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, as well as several philanthropists of Ukrainian descent who have supported educational and veteran initiatives for many years.
Organizers emphasized that the Across the Ocean tour became a bridge between Ukraine and the United States, connecting veterans, diplomats, educators, and community leaders. It demonstrated that the Ukrainian diaspora continues to actively support Ukraine and that Kyiv-Mohyla Academy remains a center for cultivating a new generation of responsible leaders capable of rebuilding the country after victory.
Photos: Mariia Klymchak and Petro Kovtun
Author: Danylo Pievchev