In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, countless Ukrainian-Americans swiftly mobilized to provide their support. Among them, Paul Shmotolokha, a Ukrainian-American veteran of the United States military, leveraged his cultural heritage, military experience, and professional career to deliver critical assistance to Ukrainian defenders on the ground.

The phrase Idy na Vas, meaning “I want to come to you,” originated in Kyivan Rus in 964 and was first articulated by the son of Knyahynia Olha, King Sviatoslav the Brave, who is historically noted for his audacious and extensive military campaigns. Prior to initiating a new conquest, Sviatoslav would dispatch the message ‘Idy…

From Olha to Armed Forces, Knyahynia Olha’s Legacy Lives On in Ukraine’s Fight for Sovereignty. Knyahynia Olha holds the distinction of being the first female leader of Kyivan Rus, which is the ancestor of modern-day Kyiv. Despite widespread presumptions of Kyiv’s weakness in the absence of male authority, Olha emerged as one of the most…