Milwaukee’s City Hall rotunda was filled with the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine on August 11, when Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc., in partnership with the City of Milwaukee, hosted a special Ukrainian Flag Display Ceremony.
The special event marked the beginning of a two-week period in which the flag will be displayed prominently inside City Hall’s historic rotunda, culminating on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day.
The program featured remarks from city officials, Ukrainian American leaders, and community stakeholders, each offering their perspective on the meaning of the occasion and the importance of maintaining awareness about the dire situation in Ukraine.
“We gather to honor a symbol that is much more than cloth and color. The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine is the embodiment of our history, our identity, and our unbreakable will,” said Serhiy Koledov, Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago. “It has flown over free cities and occupied towns, carried in triumph and in defiance. It has been raised in celebration and in mourning. For us, it is not just a national marker. It is a rallying symbol of resistance against Russian aggression and a century-long fight for freedom. And here in Milwaukee, far from the battlefields, it unites all who believe in sovereignty, in democracy, and in the right of nations to decide their own destiny.”
The ceremony, open to the public and media, drew supporters from across the region. Its timing was connected with Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, commemorating the nation’s 1991 declaration of soverenty after the collapse of the Soviet Union. For the Ukrainian diaspora, the day carried emotional weight, especially amid the brutality of the ongoing invasion by Russia.
“September 4, 1991, will remain forever in the history of Ukraine as the day when the blue and yellow flag was raised over the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, a symbol of our independence and sovereignty that has endured many historical trials,” added Consul General Koledov.
Milwaukee’s bond with Irpin has extended beyond the formal sister city agreement, grounded in compassion, courage, and the shared belief in freedom. The City Hall flag display served as a powerful message of solidarity, underscoring the city’s commitment to stand with Ukraine in its ongoing struggle for independence and peace.
Irpin, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, came to international attention in the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The city endured heavy shelling and destruction, yet emerged as a symbol of resistance and recovery. Milwaukee’s sister city agreement with Irpin has grown into a bridge for humanitarian aid, cultural exchange, and public awareness.
> READ: Mayors of Milwaukee and Irpin expand Sister City cooperation after visit by nonprofit delegation
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson emphasized Milwaukee’s pride in its Ukrainian community and said that the city continues to stands with Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
“Look, the city of Milwaukee has stood side by side with Ukraine since the very beginning of Vladimir Putin’s unjust war in that country, which, as all of you know too well, has cost thousands and thousands of lives. Innocent lives were lost all over Ukraine because of one man’s ego trip, one man’s power trip, one man’s thirst and quest for more power and for more territory,” said Mayor Johnson. “But this city has stood with our sister city of Irpin, and really the entirety of Ukraine, since the beginning, and we’re still standing with them today. Ukraine still stands today. And we’re really happy to stand with Ukraine on this flag day and have the Ukrainian flag hoisted here in Milwaukee City Hall. There is no way in hell that they’re giving away their sovereign territory to a madman.”
Mayor Johnson also used the occasion to announce a proclamation recognizing Ukrainian Independence Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday, August 24. The proclamation honors the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. It also reaffirms the city’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, democratic values, and cultural heritage.
“Each of us has a role to play. It may feel small, like showing up for the raising of the Ukrainian flag. A small donation, a conversation, attending rallies, or calling your representatives to continue supporting Ukraine,” said Anya Verkhovskaya, President of Friends of Be an Angel. “But do not underestimate the power of your individual actions. When we come together as a community, each of us doing our small part, we create a wave of change, a force for good that has a huge impact.”
One of the most consequential local efforts highlighted during the ceremony came from Darryl Morin, whose company, Advanced Wireless, delivered a critical technology boost to Irpin’s infrastructure. Last year, he announced the donation of 840 site-survivable, ultra-secure Wi-Fi access points to the city.
“I’m so proud to announce today that all of those access points are now installed across the entire school district in Irpin, in all of the government buildings, in their hospitals helping the doctors get life-saving information they need, and in all of the emergency response agencies that are responding to what we all know are the nightly missile attacks and drone strikes,” said Morin.
Wi-Fi access points ensure Internet access when other forms of communication fail, offering a lifeline to essential services for a traumatized community under siege.
“Today sends a clear message of hope and solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and to freedom-loving people everywhere,” added Morin, who is also the national president of Forward Latino. “Forward Latino stands with you because your fight is our fight — the defense of liberty, the defense of human dignity, and the belief that every person should have the right to live without fear of oppression.”
The August 11 ceremony continued that connection. Organizers said the two-week flag display would stand as a reminder, to all who passed through City Hall, of the ongoing need for international attention and support for Ukraine, a sovereign nation that has endured 1,265 days of a brutal and unprovoked invasion.
“May this flag be a symbol not only of where we come from, but of the promise of where we are going, toward healing, unity, and a future filled with grace and renewed strength,” said Reverend Ihor Darmohray, Priest of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.
While the war in Ukraine has shifted in intensity after more than three years, the destruction in Irpin remains a visible scar and a central reason for continued humanitarian aid efforts. Milwaukee’s engagement with the city has extended beyond symbolic gestures to include fundraising campaigns, shipment of supplies, and coordination with local organizations in Ukraine.
“When Milwaukee is asked to stand with our friends, we answer that call. Ukrainians are our friends, and their fight for sovereignty and democracy is a fight that matters to all of us here,” said Alderman Peter Burgelis, City of Milwaukee’s District 11.
Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. has played a central role in relief efforts since March 2022. The volunteer-led nonprofit has delivered medical supplies, generators, and food to communities impacted by the war, while also working to assist refugees adjusting to life in Wisconsin.
Its members have coordinated cultural events, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns to keep the reality of the war in the public conversation. In her remarks, Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc. President Halyna Salapata responded directly to recent public debates about territorial concessions.
“We hear many discussions today about Ukraine supposedly giving up its territory to the occupiers, those who came with weapons, destroyed countless cities, and caused unimaginable suffering,” said Salapata. “Let me remind you, under the Constitution of Ukraine, an independent Ukraine does not and will not negotiate away its sovereign land. There is no negotiation about Ukraine without Ukraine.
The ceremony was filled with moments of solemn reflection as well as displays of cultural pride, with attendees wearing traditional Ukrainian embroidery, holding small flags, or clasping hands during moments of silence. For some, the event served as a public expression of grief for those lost, while for others it was a demonstration of determination to see Ukraine prevail.
“The fight for freedom, and the right to worship and live your life as you please, is never over. It is fought from generation to generation, and this situation in Ukraine today is a situation in which we cannot have appeasement of fascism, authoritarianism, and crimes against humanity,” said Ahmed Quereshi, Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee. “For that reason, the Interfaith Conference continues to stand in support of Ukraine and prays for its continued success and well-being.”
Historians have long drawn parallels between the early stages of the Second World War and modern conflicts where aggressors test the resolve of the international community. In Ukraine’s case, Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea met with limited consequences. As a result, it emboldened the Kremlin to launch its full-scale invasion eight years later.
That progression, speakers noted, underscored the risk of allowing unlawful territorial seizures to stand. Each unchallenged act becomes a precedent for the next, eroding the post-war framework of international law.
“We will continue to support Ukraine and encourage all people of conscience to do what they can to aid the Ukrainian people and their state,” said Roberta S. Clark, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council. “Their struggle for survival is a moral cause the world must not ignore.”
The flag will remain in place as a symbol of Milwaukee’s continued commitment to its sister city and the people of Ukraine.
“On behalf of Wisconsin Ukrainians, I thank you for standing here with us. May this flag fly high as the beacon of unity, peace, and hope. Slava Ukrainian,” added Salapata.
