Three American cities, dozens of meetings, hundreds of people, and one common goal – to support those who are not only defending Ukraine today but also building its future. This was the essence of the charity tour Across the Ocean: United in Support of Ukrainian Veterans, organized by the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation in America to support the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center at the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy".

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Chicago, Washington, and New York became spaces for discussions about Ukraine, its veterans, the power of education, and the new generation of leaders who are already shaping Ukraine's future.

Chicago was the first to open its heart to the guests, welcoming the director of the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center Yana Chapaylo, the director of development and partnerships Maria Savrun, and veteran, marine Dmitry Ternovyi, one of the first graduates of the Center's program. Together with the Foundation's president Marta Farion and executive director Maria Klymchak, the "Kyiv delegation" got acquainted with the city's Ukrainian community. The guests appeared on the Ukrainian radio UA Chicago, which is an informational sponsor of the tour, met with the leadership of Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, one of the sponsors of veterans' education, and also visited Ukrainian churches, the Ukrainian National Museum, and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, and viewed the city from the deck of a tourist boat. The culmination was a charity evening at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. On May 2, the Chicago community once again proved how powerful Ukrainian unity is across the ocean. The evening brought together people of different generations around the future of veterans and the role of education in Ukraine's post-war recovery.

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A special guest of the event was Father Volodymyr Kushnir – a medical chaplain and pastor of the Ukrainian community, who has been supporting Ukrainian military personnel and new immigrants in the USA for many years. The evening began with a solemn march by the St. Joseph Band under the direction of Ivan Strogush. It was pleasing to note that Ukrainian students currently studying at universities in Chicago also came to support Mohyla. Many of them ended up in the USA due to the war in Ukraine. Their first meeting during the banquet celebrating the 410th anniversary of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, organized by the KMA Foundation last year, became the impetus for uniting into a common Ukrainian student organization. Since then, students have not only maintained contact with each other but have also actively participated in events of the Ukrainian community and initiatives supporting Ukraine and Ukrainian education.

The next stop of the tour was Washington, where the Foundation and Center team held a series of advocacy meetings with representatives of the American political and diplomatic community.

One of the most emotional moments was visiting Arlington National Cemetery – a symbolic place of remembrance for American defenders. Ukrainian guests saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the changing of the guard ceremony, and the historical estate of General Robert E. Lee's family, around which the cemetery was established.

In Washington, the delegation met with representatives of senators, American institutions, and diplomats from the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA. Veteran Dmitry Ternovyi, who was born in Crimea, shared with advisors from the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA Daria Haidai and Kateryna Smaglii, graduates of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, his vision of the importance of supporting Ukrainian veterans. The parties also discussed the possibilities of scaling the successful model of the Center and establishing partnerships with higher education institutions across the United States. Who better than the graduates of the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" to understand their own and suggest which doors to knock on to have them opened. Mohyla diplomacy in action!

An important meeting was also held at the Victims of Communism Museum with Professor Eric Patterson – a veteran of American military campaigns, who expressed his readiness to share experiences with Ukrainian veterans. The museum honors the memory of over 100 million people killed by communist regimes. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation was established by the US Congress in 1993 at the initiative of Zbigniew Brzezinski, anti-communist activist of Ukrainian descent Lev Dobriansky, and others.

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Our team prepared thoroughly for the meeting with aides from the offices of Senators Richard Durbin and Marcy Kaptur, and the presentation of the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center programs went at a high level. "Thank you for your service. I wish you to become a leader in the Ukrainian parliament," – with these words, an American politician bid farewell to veteran Dmitry Ternovyi, shaking his hand firmly.

A meeting in the office of Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War, whose story of service and dedication to veterans has become a source of inspiration for Ukrainian defenders, had special significance.

On May 7, a charity evening of the tour took place at Ukraine House in the US capital. The main speaker was William Taylor, one of the most authoritative American diplomats on Ukrainian issues.

He was the US Ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009, and in 2019 he served as the acting Chargé d'Affaires of the United States in Kyiv. After the start of Russian aggression, he remained one of the consistent voices of support for Ukraine in Washington. A special place in his activities is the support of education and the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy". For his significant contribution to the development of international cooperation and support of the university, William Taylor became an honorary professor of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

In the warm atmosphere of the evening, stories were shared about veterans returning to civilian life, education as a path to new leadership, and the world's responsibility to Ukraine. Dmitry Ternovyi shared his personal story: from a severe injury near Avdiivka to studying in the master's program in public administration at Mohyla.

The final stop of the tour was New York. On May 9, the concluding charity evening took place at the Ukrainian Institute of America, which participants called truly familial. Among the honored guests were diplomats. The main speaker was John Herbst – an American diplomat, politician, and one of the most authoritative experts on Ukraine and Eurasia. From 2003 to 2006, he served as the United States Ambassador to Ukraine, and he is currently the director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington. Ambassador Herbst has consistently supported Ukraine for many years, advocating for strengthening Ukrainian-American partnership, supporting Ukrainian statehood and security. His voice remains one of the most influential in shaping the American vision regarding Ukraine, especially in the context of Russian aggression. In his speech, Ambassador John Herbst emphasized the importance of supporting Ukrainian veterans, developing leadership, and the role of education in rebuilding Ukraine.

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The evening also featured Andriy Melnyk – a Ukrainian diplomat, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations. Andriy Melnyk is known for his principled position on supporting Ukraine, active diplomatic activities, and consistent work to enhance international assistance to the Ukrainian people. The ambassador supported the mission of the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center.

The evening brought together alumni, friends of Mohyla, diplomats, journalists, philanthropists, and all those who support Ukraine. They spoke about education, veteran leadership, international support, and the power of human connections.

Guests from Kyiv – Yana Chapaylo, Maria Savrun, and Dmitry Ternovyi – became living witnesses of how Ukraine, in times of war, is forming a responsible, educated, and strong elite.

In two years of activity, the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center has already graduated over 120 veterans, implemented hundreds of hours of training, and created a network of partnerships with businesses and international organizations. Its mission is to help defenders transform military experience into leadership experience in civilian life. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Foundation in the USA supported the opening and activities of the Center and continues its work in this direction.

The Across the Ocean tour became a true bridge between Ukraine and America, between veterans and diplomats, between the university and the community, between people who believe in Ukraine's future. Such meetings prove that Mohyla has become a global community of people who continue to work for Ukraine even across the ocean. Foundation President Marta Farion emphasized the importance of supporting the Center and presented awards to philanthropists who help implement programs for veterans. This year, awards were received by: Heritage Foundation of First Security Federal Savings Bank, Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, Yaroslava Z. Johnson, president and CEO of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, Dr. Myron Voytovych, Dr. of Law Halyna Traversa, Dr. Oleksandr Kosenko and Anna Kosenko, Zirka Voronka, Susan Stetkevich, Yuriy Chopivskyi, president of the Ukrainian Development Company, the Deichakivsky family: Nadiya Deichakivska, Orest Deichakivsky, Yuriy Deichakivsky, Mykola Deichakivsky.

We thank the Ukrainian community for their support, trust, and presence at each of the charity evenings of the tour. Special thanks to Mohyla alumna, journalist Maria Ulyanovska for professional moderation of events, established communication, and coverage of events in the media. We sincerely thank Khrystyna Tatarska, president of the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of Canada, for cooperation, support, and participation in the American tour. We express gratitude to our partners, Ukraine House, Ukrainian Institute of America, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council for their help in organizing events and supporting the mission of the Center. To everyone who was with us, thank you for your solidarity with our heroes and belief in Ukraine's future. We wish the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center many years of successful work, development, and new achievements in forming a strong, responsible, and active community of veteran leaders.

Glory to the Heroes!


Photos by Maria Klymchak and Petro Kovtun