“Dear Andrii, Thank you for defending our homeland. I am a pupil of Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. Every day all pupils are praying for you. Hopefully, you will come back soon, healthy and sound. Matey Jacks.”
“Dear Mykola, Thank you for defending Ukraine from Russia. I know that this is very difficult.”
“Dear Mr. Mykola, I am Ralph Nestorovych from the US, Detroit. I love the Ukrainian language. Thank you for fighting. I know it is hard. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to its Heroes! Respectfully, Ralph.”
These are the letters from the children of American Ukrainians to the servicemen of the 40th Motorized Infantry Battalion, which is stationed in Kryvy Rih. Press Officer of the 40th Battalion Viktor Kovalenko explained, “The story is as follows. I know people from the Ukrainian Diaspora who live in the Detroit vicinity. I have been there; they know that I’m in the army now. There are Saturday Ukrainian schools in some districts of the city. So, the parents decided, why can’t American children write letters to Ukraine like Ukrainian children do? My wife Lidia Kovalenko helps me a lot, she also helps the servicemen by raising charity funds in the US, Canada, and other countries to buy equipment for our soldiers in Kryvy Rih. On the eve of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lidia sent me six such letters from the US. One of them turned out to be from the boy who played in The Guide. I was amazed. Next week I will start recording the videos with responses of the servicemen to these letters.”
