Some are calling it Russia’s Pearl Harbor.
On Sunday (June 1), Ukrainian fighters smuggled more than 100 drones deep into Russian territory.
Once inside, the drones blew up 40 Russian aircraft. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Operation Spider’s Web managed to take out about 34%, or a third of Russia’s fleet.
The war may be a world away from where we are, but people like Oleksandr “Sasha” Tkachenko have been following it closely.
“They have more soldiers, they have more money, but we’re smarter,” said Sasha in response to the drone attack.
He is one of many Ukrainian Americans who, instead of watching the war unfold from U.S. soil, have worked to support soldiers fighting on the ground.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, he and many others joined together to raise supplies for emergency backpacks.
“I think when we started this volunteering project, it helped us, not thinking about war a lot and thinking about helping,” Sasha said.
He delivered many of the supplies himself, making friends with the soldiers on the front lines.
In return, he received various gifts as a token of appreciation. Ukrainian flags, flags of military units, shell casings, photographs, artwork, and other war-related remnants.
Recently, he relocated those items from his office to the Ukrainian American Archives & Museum in Hamtramck.
The museum once highlighted Ukraine’s rich culture and past, but now holds Ukraine’s present, the story of a years-long war with Russia.
“A lot of memories, a lot of memories I want to cry about, and a lot of memories I want to smile about; it’s a combination of very sad stories and very good stories,” said Sasha, who says Ukraine’s successful drone attack brought up a lot of emotion. “Once you see that, you feel like we can continue defending our country.”
The museum is located at 9630 Joseph Campau Ave in Hamtramck and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The collection, titled Forged in Fire and Etched in Memory, will be on display until July, when it’s expected to move to Chicago.