The Metro: Ukraine’s Cultural Forces makes Detroit stop on tour

It’s been over two years since Russia’s invasion of the Ukrainian mainland on Feb. 24, 2022. The war has not only impacted millions of lives, leading to widespread displacement and loss, it has also caused many at home to consider our country’s place in the world. 

Beyond the battlefield, Ukrainians locally and abroad continue to fight for their cultural identity and morale. One initiative arising from the frontlines of the war is Ukraine’s Cultural Forces, a group of military members who were professional artists before the war. 

They are currently visiting the United States on a music tour of gratitude to America. Valery Shyrokov, Taras Stoliar and Olha Rukavishnikova joined The Metro on Tuesday for a conversation and live performance. 

In April, the U.S. committed $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. Without U.S. aid, Ukrainians are facing losses on a day to day basis, Shyrokov says. Ukraine’s Cultural Forces recently visited the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Cleveland. 

“I made a reference to the workers in the museum to say, ‘Listen, every day that you delay the aid to us, we’re inscribing our names, the names of our soldiers and sailors on our own walls back home in Ukraine,’” Shyrokov says. “We are suffering losses, please continue aid. Without you, we will have suffered more.”

Ukraine’s Cultural Forces are performing next in Kalamazoo before continuing on to Chicago. 

“When the war started, they put aside the musical instruments and they took up the weapons to defend the motherland,” Shyrokov says. “Now they’re coming back to playing music, which is a much more powerful tool to convey the message about war in Ukraine here on the American soil.”

More headlines from The Metro on June 11: 

• A new study seems to indicate Canadian wildfires may have killed over 1,000 Americans, including two dozen in Detroit. Professor of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University Alistair Hayden joined the show to discuss what we can do to protect ourselves from wildfire smoke. 
• Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County is relocating one of its resale shops that accepts and receives gently used home repair items. Executive Director & CEO Michele Hodges joined the show to talk about how the new location will serve more people.