I have dozens, hundreds of questions for the Ukrainian authorities — both current and former. What kind? All sorts. Why? How? Who? When? Why? Until when?... But I have no questions for Ukraine. Because I simply love it. Not the government — Ukraine. The native land. And when you love sincerely, to the depths of your soul, you don't ask anything. You don't demand anything. You don't reproach anything. You don't feel ashamed. You don't slander. You help, in any way you can, to make it better. More beautiful. Even if it means deciding to simply plant flowers...

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Despite the fact that this year my Ukraine celebrates only 35 years of its Independence, my love for it is older — exactly as old as I am, which is a bit more than 35. Because I was born and raised Ukrainian even when Ukraine was part of the Soviet empire. But in my grandmother's house, there were icons adorned with embroidered towels. And in the closet — embroidered shirts for each family member. And at Christmas, we prepared kutia, at Easter we baked paskha and dyed eggs with onion skins (though secretly from unfriendly eyes, because my mother was a teacher and could lose her job for such things under the Union). And in the evenings, my grandfather sometimes liked to turn on the record player, and from the vinyl came the choral singing: "Verkhovyno, our world, oh, how lovely it is here." And following the singing, from the same vinyl, the folk musicians filled the house with the fiery "Arkan." And on the wall near the stove was a large photo of Kateryna Bilokur's miraculous flowers with clearly printed words: "Mother sowed marigolds in my dawn land..."

That's how I grew up with Ukraine in my heart — with the land of my birth, my first step, and my first word. That's how I was raised, studying in a Soviet school (the 1980s), and I could never understand why my grandmother, when I once heard the story of her father who was exiled to Siberia, would say to my detailed inquiries about his fate: "Oh, child, not now, not now..."

And then came 1991. The day of the proclamation of Independence arrived. And although the first written mention of Ukraine, recorded in the Kyiv Chronicle, dates back to 1187

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year, we celebrate your, Ukraine, birthdays in the time of modern history. This year — the 35th!

Yes, over these years, many questions about the past have been answered, but unfortunately, just as many arise about the present day. And among them, the most important for me is the question that poet-songwriter Stepan Halyabarda very aptly formulated in his poem: "Who are you, Ukraine? How long will others and our own mock you?" Because out of that mockery came a terrible disaster. Black and bloody, called by the short word "war."

Isn't that why your 35th anniversary of Independence became such an important date in the lives of conscious Ukrainians, Ukraine?! Both there, on the native land, where opportunities for its celebration are found, and abroad, because today Ukrainian hearts beat on all continents.

Chicago is no exception. On the contrary, here they honor and celebrate everything connected with Ukraine. But unfortunately, not everyone. According to some approximate estimates, there are over 200,000 Ukrainians in our city, according to others — almost 500,000. Do you think even half of the smaller number comes to celebrate Ukrainian national holidays? Unfortunately... However, I don't want to talk now about indifference, about passivity, about short memory (many could have long been under bullets if not for...), about the importance of each person's presence so that American society sees and understands WHAT we are celebrating, WHAT we are concerned about today, WHAT support and assistance we need and WHY.

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All this can be the subject of a separate conversation. I am about the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence in Chicago — with deep gratitude to all who attended the meetings held. And their initiator and organizer was traditionally the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division (President Dr. Maria Dmytriv-Kapeniak) and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago (Consul General Kostiantyn Vorona) with the support and participation of Ukrainian activists of various ages.

It should be noted that shortly before our anniversary date, the city's mayor Brandon Johnson proclaimed August 2026 as Ukraine Month in Chicago. And the governor of the state of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, officially proclaimed August 2026 as Ukraine Independence Month throughout the state.

On Friday, August 21, in downtown Chicago, at Daley Plaza, a ceremony was held to raise the State Flag of Ukraine.

On Saturday, August 22, at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, a forum "Ukraine and the World. Global Perspectives" was held, bringing together leaders of the Ukrainian community, friends of Ukraine among politicians, scientists, clergy, and representatives of public organizations to discuss global challenges and the future of Ukraine in the world.

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And on Sunday, August 23, the Unity March took place. The festively decorated column formed at the intersection of Chicago and Ashland streets and slowly moved to the center of the Ukrainian neighborhood. The street event was secured by the Chicago police. The purpose of the March was to show that the Ukrainian community is strong, that our Ukraine is unbreakable. In the column were representatives of church parishes with their spiritual fathers, public organizations, institutions, sports clubs, youth communities, charitable organizations, Ukrainian studies schools, creative collectives. People of different ages walked — gray-haired and very young, but with sincere Ukrainian hearts. Young families who decorated children's strollers with Ukrainian symbols and dressed their little ones, a few months or even a few weeks old, in embroidered shirts were a delight to see.

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Girls in Ukrainian costumes carried bouquets of blooming sunflowers and handed them to random passersby. Protesters chanted slogans in English: "Peace for Ukraine!", "We fight for freedom!", "Russia is a terrorist state!", "Saving Ukraine is saving the world!", "America supports Ukraine!", "Thank you, America!". Mixed with the slogans were songs — about the viburnum that we will raise together, about the red rue, about our native Ukraine, over which the Milky Way shines and which cannot be unloved...

The uplifting mood continued with a strong and meaningful concert program, which took place near the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha. Special thanks to the parish, which prepared a generous treat for the festive community. The concert began with the performance of the main national songs of Ukraine and America, with our spiritual anthem "God, Great and One." After the blessing of the holy fathers and the passionate speeches of American friends-politicians, after the welcoming words of the Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago Kostiantyn Vorona, the baton was passed to the amazingly talented performers of the Ukrainian community. The songs and dance compositions not only provided aesthetic pleasure but also, through the power of art, demonstrated the unity of Ukraine, showed its melodic beauty in words, rhythms, and embroidery, prompting everyone present to fly in thoughts to their native land, which faces challenging trials.

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Overall, all the events during the festive celebrations in Chicago were brought to one denominator: Ukraine is a peaceful country; the war in Ukraine has been ongoing for five years; people are dying in Ukraine — military, civilians, children; Ukraine wants to live and has the right to life. Therefore, leading the column, returning to the Unity March, were Ukrainian American veterans. Behind them were girls with portraits of fallen defenders. Next were Ukrainian soldiers who are in America for treatment and prosthetics. Applause of gratitude, tears, flowers, and songs, the flutter of blue-yellow and red-black flags, American flags, great hope for God's mercy, sincere love for the native land, unbreakable faith in the peaceful day of Ukraine — all this united the participants of the March into a cohesive organism. All this added understanding that only together can we bring that day closer: those who fight on the front line, those who work for the front (Chicago, without exaggeration, can serve as an example of support for Ukraine and its defenders), and the civilized world, to which we appeal for help, because we are dealing with such a monster that cannot be defeated alone.

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And you know what it said recently at another swampy meeting with the same subhumans as itself? It said that Russian soldiers are worried: "What will we do when the SVO ends?" That is, they are so captivated by this, they do it with such soul and feel their involvement in a great, necessary cause for Russia, that they have anxiety — will they be as in demand as they are now...

Do you hear this message? Do you understand what it's about? They are now killing people, leveling our cities and villages with the ground, and doing it "with soul"... They want the war not to end because they will have nothing to do. Is it possible that they know nothing else but to kill?! It seems so... Do you hear, world? This is about those who might have a beastly plan in their notebook: today — us, tomorrow — you...

So how about it, world, are you with us?! We believe you are with us.

And we believe in you, Ukraine. We believe in your future anniversaries. There will be many, very many. Because your fate is on the side of the scales where God, Truth, and Love reside.

Bless us, Lord, with peace.

Glory to Ukraine!

 

Photos by Petro Kovtun and the newspaper's editorial team