Ukrainians in Wisconsin hold out for hope in their homeland

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Since 2022 Ukrainians have been in the war for their lives. The fighting has killed hundreds of thousands and forced millions from their homes. Russia had been at war with Ukraine since 2014, when it annexed Crimea and invading two eastern regions; Luhansk and Donetsk. When Moscow invaded the rest of the country on February 24, 2022, CBS 58 spoke with Ukrainians experiencing the war firsthand. Four years after the full-scale invasion, CBS 58 reconnected with some of them, like Oksana Ivanyuk in Kyiv.

"All of a sudden at night there was this huge bombardment," said Ivanyuk. "We all woke up in the state of the actual war."

We also spoke with Ukrainians now living here in southeast Wisconsin like Halyna Salapata.

"I was one of those naive people that thought it will never happen,” said Salapata. “Putin is building up the forces by the border only to scare everyone." 

Despite living thousands of miles apart, the two women had the same stunned reaction to the invasion of their homeland.

"My response was like 'you don't invade another country with tanks. We are living in the 21st century,'" said Salapata.

“It was more of a shock, just an astonishment,” said Ivanyuk. “You know, it's the 21st century."

Salapata founded the non-profit group Wisconsin Ukrainian in an effort to raise money and support for her people. 

"That pain and shock turned into action, we had to do something,” Salapata said. “Most of us here were completely terrified."

Ivanyuk considered leaving the country with her family along with millions of other Ukrainians but chose to stay out of a sense of duty for and solidarity with her country. She works as a documentarian and media producer. Her latest documentary, ‘Main Hero’ follows actors turned soldiers defending Ukraine against Russia.

She and her family still live in Kyiv and during the winter of 2026. They faced daily heating and power outages as Russian drones and missiles rained down on the country.

"After almost each attack, the heating system goes down," said Ivanyuk. "Sometimes after the attacks we don't have water. Sometimes we don't have water for days."

Across the country, Russian attacks have destroyed billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

"It's terrifying,” Salapata said. “You see schools, hospitals, cities and homes being destroyed."

Without reliable heating or power, Ukrainians have been forced to adapt to the brutal conditions.

"Some people put up tents in their apartments,” Ivanyuk described. “They put some candles inside and they just warm this small place. They get sleeping bags and everyone sleeps together just to keep warm, you know, parents with kids."

Despite the freezing cold and peace talks stalling, Ukrainians remain resilient.

"This is much tougher than the previous winters,” Ivanyuk said. “I'm pretty sure people are not ready to give up. It is tough, it is difficult, but it doesn’t make us ready to find compromises. It makes you more angry, it makes you more determined."

Here in Wisconsin, Ukrainians have rallied.

"I have to say the community is more united," Salapata said.

On Milwaukee's south side, Reverend Ihor Darmograj preaches at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church. With family living in western Ukraine, he says he and his parishioners are always scared for their loved ones.

"You always keep your phone in your pocket because you understand that in this moment somebody can call you and tell you bad news," Rev. Darmograj said.

In 2025, Wisconsin Ukrainians Inc. pushed for lawmakers in Madison to recognize the abduction of Ukrainian children into Russia. Tens of thousands of children have been taken from their families according to the United Nations. 

"Wisconsin is the only state that resolution was adopted unanimously,” Salapata said. “It was in November. You're like champions here in the United States. We're so proud of that."

Now in 2026, with another year of war on the horizon, Ukrainians stay focused on what matters.

"You are trying to catch every moment, every minute, with your relatives, with your family,” Rev. Darmograj said.

And they remain hopeful for the future. 

"We are building our future, our hope," said Rev. Darmograj. 

"In my head, Ukrainians already won," said Salapata. 

Even if the future means years of fighting ahead, Ivanyuk said her people are ready. 

“We just finished a film about Ukrainian artists that joined the army," said Ivanyuk. "One of them had this very well-articulated thought. You know when you accept the fact that the war will last for a long time, then you change your mentality. You start thinking differently. You’re not hiding. You’re not afraid anymore. What you really need to become is the ultimate warrior.”

According to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, by the end of 2025 more than 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or wounded in combat. The center also reports Russian forces have sustained nearly 800,000 casualties. 

With respect to civilians, at least 14,534 Ukrainians have been killed, and at least 7,175 Russian civilians have been killed. 

Russia currently occupies about 19% of Ukrainian territory, including the regions taken in 2014.