Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc.

10/18/2026

Since August this year, we’ve provided $22,576 in support for Ukraine!

Thanks to everyone who attended our Ukrainian Festival, our donors, and every volunteer who made it possible, proceeds from the festival and other fundraising efforts have helped provide the following over the past few months:

• $8,000 in medical supplies
• A $1,300 laptop for the 2nd Battalion of the 102nd Separate Brigade
• A $1,000 EcoFlow portable power station
• A $2,000 grant to the Brave Children of Ukraine Foundation
• $1,800 in tourniquets
• A $2,000 blood storage and transport container
• $354 in skin barrier ointment
• $822 in water filtration systems
• $3,500 in Starlink Mini systems
• A $1,300 Webasto heater
• A $500 grant to the Culinary Battalion, a women’s organization that prepares food for Ukrainian defenders

We’ve received photos and video reports from various brigades and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (ДСНС) in Odesa. You can find these updates on our page , and we expect more reports in the coming weeks.

Our festival also gave other organizations an opportunity to raise funds for their initiatives, many of which support Ukraine. Its impact extends beyond our own work.

Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. has no office or paid staff. All seven board members and our volunteers throughout Wisconsin give their time to make this possible.

We are proud to help in so many ways: from medical supplies and essential equipment to children’s initiatives and meals for our defenders. The needs remain greater than what we can provide, but every contribution matters. Ukraine continues to stand because of its people’s courage and the collective efforts of those who refuse to stop helping. We are grateful to play our part, especially when support from partners feels increasingly uncertain.

Here in Wisconsin, we also bring people together through festivals, cultural events, and shared traditions. We create opportunities to experience Ukrainian culture far from home, introduce our neighbors to Ukraine, and build a community where we can support one another.

Thank you to our volunteers, donors, guests, and participating organizations. Please join us at future events, invite your friends, and help us keep Ukraine visible and supported. Your involvement makes this work possible.

Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. was founded in March 2022 and received its 501c3 designation in April 2022. Our Mission is to connect Wisconsin Ukrainians and supporters in humanitarian, charitable and educational efforts through public awareness, current events and cultural pride.

10/17/2026

On October 14, CBS News reported that the United States may have deliberately withheld warnings before Russian strikes that killed six people and left approximately 600,000 without electricity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine received no advance warning from its partners, without directly naming the United States. American officials reportedly blamed bad weather for a malfunction in the missile-detection system. Ukrainian officials disputed that explanation and suspected intentional interference.

It was noted that a technical failure would represent a different chain of responsibility from an intentional decision to deprive Ukraine of warnings, while Russian missiles approached civilian population centers.

Trump has already demonstrated his willingness to suspend intelligence assistance for political purposes. In March 2025, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Trump had ordered a suspension of intelligence cooperation and military assistance to force Zelenskyy into negotiations that favored Putin.

Reuters reported that the interruption threatened Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, including its ability to respond to Russian missile attacks.

The recent wave of allegations follows an established presidential practice of Trump using military intelligence as leverage. The restrictions were not confined only to intelligence.

Reuters reported on October 15 that an order to slow Ukraine’s Starshield military satellite service originated inside Trump’s White House. Two American officials and a Western official described instructions transmitted to the Pentagon concerning the communications network operated by SpaceX.

Starshield supported Ukrainian battlefield communications and drone operations. The imposed restrictions reduced the effectiveness of drones operating at higher speeds, including interceptors used against Russian aerial weapons that target civilian infrastructure.

https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/explainers/trump-scrutinized-potential-war-crimes-decisions-help-putin-weaken-ukraines-defenses/

Trump scrutinized for potential war crimes over his decisions to help Putin and weaken Ukraine’s defenses Posted by Mitchell A. Sobieski | Oct 17, 2026 President Donald Trump faces questions over potential war crimes, stemming from his decisions to restrict Ukrainian military capabilities while Ru...

10/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FAzXcDkgC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

On Saturday, October 17, at 3:00pm, we will join with other groups at the Wisconsin State Capitol Building to stand with Ukraine. Please join us.

10/12/2026

I wish we could talk about Ukraine without mentioning war. But today, we cannot afford to.

Our eighth annual Borshch-Off brought together more than 23 entries competing for the best borshch and nearly 200 people who came to enjoy this beloved dish—a part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. Together, we raised more than $5,000!
It was a wonderful day of food, friendship, and Ukrainian culture. Yet when we celebrate the richness of our culture, we must also speak about russia’s war against Ukraine and the people, traditions, and communities it is destroying.

We do what we know best: tell the truth, share our culture and our stories, feed people, and help keep Ukraine warm. The funds raised will buy thermal underwear, thermal blankets, and other winter essentials for Ukrainian defenders. As russia continues attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the coming winter threatens to be especially difficult.

A special thank-you to Luella, whose original idea became this wonderful tradition and who continues organizing it alongside Wisconsin Ukrainians. Thank you to Turner Hall for providing the space free of charge. Emilio, you are an incredible human being, and we all know it. We’re so grateful for your generosity and support!

Congratulations to our 2026 winners!

Meat category:

1. Anna Rodriguez (14)
2. Vira Kozlovska (8)
3. Kerry Schmidt Cook (13)

Vegetarian category:

1. Luella Dooley-Menet (2)
2. Ulana Tyshynsky (12)
3. Julie Droste-Bresser (16)

Thank you to every cook, volunteer, donor, and guest. You helped turn a bowl of borshch into warmth, care, and support for Ukraine.

10/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1a4ZbWToKW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

More than 20 cooks will compete Sunday, Oct. 11, at Turner Hall in Milwaukee to make the best bowl of traditional Ukrainian beet soup, with proceeds benefiting Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc.

Story in comments.

10/06/2026

Milwaukee, join us for an evening of Ukrainian music!

Women's Bandura Ensemble of North America brings twenty women from seven cities together to share the beauty of bandura music and song in Songs from Near & Far.

Saturday, November 7, 2026,
Door opens at 6:00 p.m.
UWM Music Building – Recital Hall
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Tickets: $30 for adults; $15 for students with ID and children.

Bring your family and friends, and enjoy a beautiful evening celebrating Ukrainian musical traditions!

10/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FCZ9TGY3n/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Wisconsin Remembers Forced Famine In Ukraine: The Stories & History of Holodomor

Hosted by Friends of Ukraine, Madison, this community program at the Verona Public Library aims to raise awareness about the 1932–1933 Holodomor, a Soviet-engineered famine and genocide in Ukraine. The event will feature insights from historian Dr. Daria Mattingly on the perpetrators of the famine, author Tammy Borden on survivor memory through family history, and a short film showcasing survivor testimony. The afternoon will conclude with refreshments, conversation, and a book signing.