3 ways Iowans are supporting Ukrainians

The conflict is far away, but that hasn’t stopped these people from helping however they can.

Volunteering abroad

Photos of World Central Kitchen's relief work at the Ukrainian border in Przemysl, Poland. (Courtesy of Sean Kennedy)

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When Sean Kennedy saw stories about Russia’s war against Ukraine on TV, the Iowa City native felt called to action to help the thousands of Ukrainians suddenly forced to leave their homes to find a safe place to stay away from the fighting.

Kennedy has made nearly a dozen trips to Ukraine over the years and admires the love the Ukrainian people have for their country, which they’re showing now by risking their lives to fight against Russia in hopes of a better future for Ukraine.

He decided to help the Ukrainians by flying to Poland for a couple of weeks to serve hot meals as a volunteer with an organization called World Central Kitchen. This group travels around the world after disasters to make sure the people affected by such events still have good food to eat. World Central Kitchen even came to Iowa after the derecho’s strong winds swept across the state in August 2020.

Some of the people Kennedy feeds have taken a long walk to get there, so they’re pretty tired once they arrive and are sometimes upset about what’s happening to their country. But Kennedy said these Ukrainians also are very grateful to get some tasty, warm food in their bellies. It provides them much-needed comfort.

“We want them to get there, have something that warms their heart as well as their body,” Kennedy said.

Organizing and attending a rally

Protesters march toward the Pentacrest during a rally calling for peace and an end to the Russian Ukrainian conflict on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

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Iowa City residents Veronica Tessler and Olga Dubey both wanted to find a way to support Ukraine and show solidarity from Iowa. The pair met through social media and decided to organize a rally in Iowa City to stand with Ukraine.

Tessler and Dubey both have connections to the country, but you don’t need to have a connection to Ukraine to show support.

Tessler’s father immigrated to the United States from Kyiv in 1973. She said all of her family has left the country but her father still has childhood friends who live there. He talks to them daily.

Dubey is from Ukraine but now lives in Iowa City and is a graduate student at the University of Iowa. Her whole family still lives in Ukraine. Dubey is worried about her family but talks with them everyday to check in.

“People are staying strong, but they are very worried and very brave,” Dubey said.

About 50 people showed up to Tessler and Dubey’s rally earlier this month. Tessler said she wanted the event to help raise the voices of Ukrainians and show solidarity.

Dubey said she was very grateful to see how many people showed up in support. She said it is important for people in Iowa to learn about the war.

“We really hope there will be a way to end this as soon as possible,” Dubey said.

Advocating for Ukrainian kids

Nikki and Paul Hynek talk to Viktor (seen), 10, and his sister Yaroslava, 16, via cellphone from the Hynek home in rural Swisher, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The Hyneks are looking to get Viktor and Yaroslava and their brother Vadim, 12, out of the country. The Hyneks are trying every day to work with politicians, immigration attorneys, anyone who may be able to help at least get them across the border to safety. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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Nikki and Paul Hynek learned about the opportunity to “host” children from countries around the globe in their own home in Swisher in 2018. Soon after, they welcomed Viktor, a child from Ukraine, into their home for the first time.

The Hyneks said they quickly “fell in love” with the boy, now age 10. He even calls them “mama” and “papa,” and has visited them four times since.

“We’re reading books at night with them, just showing them a family dynamic, because they just don't have that,” Paul said.

Their love for Viktor grew so much that they are looking to adopt Viktor and his 16-year-old sister, Yaroslava. Nikki’s sister is looking to host their 12-year-old brother, Vadim.

The war in Ukraine has made it harder for the couple to adopt the children, but they still wanted to get the kids out of Ukraine and away from the fighting.

After many conversations with lawyers and other government officials, the Hyneks were able to get the kids to safety. Paul recently took a flight to help relocate the siblings to Austria.

The children aren’t able to leave and return to the U.S. to stay with Paul and Nikki just yet, but the Hyneks are relieved the kids are in a safer place away from the war. They're still messaging and video-chatting Viktor and his siblings often, and hope to welcome them home permanently someday.