Ukrainian ex-soldiers, defense officials visit Modesto. Here’s why
For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, Olena Rybinska wore heels during her visit to Modesto, instead of her everyday boots. Since missile attacks can occur at any moment, she said most Ukrainians opt for boots when walking to and from work.
“This is our reality that we live in everyday,” said Rybinska, head of the communication department at the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation and Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Modesto Sister Cities International hosted a delegation from Ukraine on Thursday of mostly military people and veterans, during a weeklong visit to Modesto and other stops in the region. Modesto has been a sister city of Khmelnytskyi since 1987.
The six delegates, including Rybinska, said the goal of their visit is to deepen cooperation and understanding between the United States and Ukraine, as they now enter their second year of the war.
Over 10,000 civilians have lost their lives and nearly 20,000 have been injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the U.N. Last month, three people died in the Khmelnytskyi region after a missile attack.
Masi Nayyem, another delegate, was wounded during the war in June 2022, losing his eye. He later founded “Pryntsyp,” – which translates to “principle” – an organization that works to help wounded people and to ensure that war veterans and their families receive support in civilian life.
Originally from Afghanistan, Nayyem was influential in sparking the Euromaidan demonstrations in Ukraine in 2013-2014.
“When you support Ukraine, you support your values, too. It’s about humanity because we don’t attack anybody, we just defend,” Nayyem said.
He added that the U.S.’s investment in Ukraine is not just about helping Ukraine, but in building a world without war.
One of the reception’s attendees was Solange Altman, a retired lawyer from Modesto. In June 2022, she volunteered to cook borscht, Ukraine’s national dish, to raise money for the war. There were 500 people from Modesto who attended the dinner.
They raised $75,000, which helped pay for two electric generators for hospitals in Khmelnytskyi, including a children’s hospital. Three days after the installation, the area was bombed by air raids.
The two generators, however, helped keep the hospital running when Russia’s forces attacked and destroyed 50% of Ukraine’s power grid.
Altman was given the Hero of Ukraine award by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation in Washington D.C.
“I may have been the spark plug, but the engine, we’re all the people of this community who made it happen,” said Altman.
