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Detroit, MI

Ukraine supporters rally in Detroit to raise awareness of 3-year war with Russia

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Ukraine supporters rally in Detroit to raise awareness of 3-year war with Russia


Detroit — Hundreds of Ukrainian Americans and Ukraine supporters rallied in downtown Detroit Sunday to raise awareness of the war with Russia on its three-year anniversary.

Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests addressed the crowd at Hart Plaza and prayed for peace for their home country and its people.

Attendees wearing blue and yellow hats, holding Ukrainian flags or draping Ukraine flags around their shoulders strutted down Jefferson Avenue carrying signs that said, “Ukraine vs. Fascism,” “Support Ukraine. No Strings Attached,” “Help Ukraine = Save the World,” and more.

And they gathered to sing the Ukraine national anthem together.

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The rally comes after Russia and the U.S. agreed earlier this month to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties.

Nate Hatton, 32, of Eastpointe attended the rally with a large group of Ukrainians Americans who held a part-American, part-Ukrainian flag.

“We should support democracy, freedom, not allowing another foreign country to invade another country without any repercussions and kill and slaughter innocent civilians,” Hatton said.

Hatton, a train conductor, said he volunteered to assist Ukraine in developing a railway and visited the country in October 2024. He said he spent two weeks in fear in Kyiv, especially after a 16-year-old girl was killed a mile from where he stayed.

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“I didn’t know what being scared or really what real fear is until I was in a situation like that,” he said. “They showed me … how the war has changed their jobs (and) the situation in their country.

“I thought, naively, the capital was safe from some of the things that were happening miles away in eastern Ukraine. I spent every night in a bomb shelter while I was there. Nowhere in Ukraine is safe. I think the world shouldn’t standby and allow these types of things to go on.”

United Support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian-American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan organized the rally.

Andrew Powers of the Ukrainian American Crisis Response Committee said in an email that a peace agreement is not enough, and Ukraine needs to be involved in negotiations.

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“A peace agreement that does not include serious security guarantees for Ukraine is realistically nothing more than a temporary ceasefire with the Russian Federation. Russia and their president want to rule all of Ukraine’s territory and will attack Ukraine again,” Powers said.

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks calling Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator amongst other harsh words have created a back-and-forth between the two presidents, creating more tension.

“President Trump’s remarks are disappointing because they are objectively false,” Powers said in an email. “Calling the democratically elected president of a free nation under attack by a nation that has an actual dictator, in Russia, is somewhat comical and has been met with objection from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.”

Kateryna Odarchenko, founder of the Institute for Democracy and Development PolitA, said in an email the tensions could lead to two possible scenarios.

“One is that this tension transforms into constructive cooperation, particularly if Zelensky’s team presents a detailed economic plan to Trump’s campaign,” Odarchenko said.

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“The second scenario revolves around Trump’s direct dialogue with Russia, framing the issue as one of U.S.-Russia relations rather than Ukraine specifically,” she said.

“Ultimately, for Ukraine to maintain strong cooperation with the U.S., a bipartisan dialogue is crucial, along with a clear economic strategy. Even if some territories remain occupied following negotiations, the key priority should be securing strong security guarantees.”

Oleksandr Kanievskyi of Westland held a sign that read, “Are we really leaders of the world?” as he stood near traffic on Jefferson Avenue with his wife and child. He also said he doesn’t agree with the U.S. government’s recent actions.

“Regarding the Canada sovereignty making them the 51 state of U.S., for me, that’s extremely embarrassing. Even if they are joking, I treat it quite serious, because my country is invaded right now,” Kanievskyi said.

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Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state as he proposes to erase the 5,525-mile-long border that separates the two countries.

“I do not agree with a lot of narratives going from U.S. administration: vice president, national security advisers. … I don’t see how it can be resolved by the strategy of leaving Ukraine alone with Russia,” Kanievskyi said. “Ukraine resists the brutal invasion by Russia so (that’s) the main goal why I’m here.”

Colton Hughes of Lansing, 35, held a life-size sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, and a sign pointed at drivers as they drove down Jefferson Avenue.

“Looking back in history there’s a lot of parallels to what happened in Poland. I’m Polish. I see this as an intrusive invasion and the unnecessary killing of innocent people and taking what rightfully isn’t there’s of Russia and Putin,” Hughes said.

Hughes said he wants to see: “Putin and Russia leave Ukraine alone. … I want people to be free to live their lives and not worry about bombs flying down and exploding their houses.”

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Detroit, MI

Air conditioner forecast: Metro Detroit heads into hot, sticky stretch

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Air conditioner forecast: Metro Detroit heads into hot, sticky stretch


Metro Detroit is set to trade this weekend’s comfortable weather for a stretch of increasingly hot and humid conditions this week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and lower 90s and humidity levels high enough to make it feel even warmer.

While Monday remains pleasant, the 4Warn Weather team is tracking a developing pattern that could bring rounds of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday, followed by a period of heat that may pose health risks for some people.

The dry weather will hold through Monday before moisture surges northward ahead of a low-pressure system. That setup will lead to increasing clouds Monday night and a growing chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday.

The atmospheric moisture levels will be unusually high for June, meaning storms will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall in a short amount of time Tuesday.

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Metro Detroit will have daily chances for showers and thunderstorms through the week, but attention will also turn to the heat.

Temperatures are expected to soar to around 90 degrees Wednesday and the lower 90s Thursday across Metro Detroit, with muggy nights only falling into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Combined with dew points rising into the upper 60s and lower 70s, heat index values could climb well into the 90s to 100 degrees.

Temperatures are expected to soar to around 90 degrees Wednesday and the lower 90s Thursday across Metro Detroit, with muggy nights only falling into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Combined with dew points rising into the upper 60s and lower 70s, heat index values could climb well into the 90s to 100 degrees. (WDIV)

These values can create dangerous conditions for vulnerable populations, including older adults, young children, people with chronic health conditions and anyone working or exercising outdoors for extended periods.

After weeks of relatively mild temperatures, the human body has not yet fully acclimated to summer heat, making heat-related illnesses more likely.

Temperatures are expected to soar to around 90 degrees Wednesday and the lower 90s Thursday across Metro Detroit, with muggy nights only falling into the upper 60s to lower 70s. Combined with dew points rising into the upper 60s and lower 70s, heat index values could climb well into the 90s to 100 degrees. (WDIV)

Heat Safety

People are encouraged to begin practicing heat safety habits now:

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  • Drink water regularly, even before feeling thirsty.

  • Limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the afternoon.

  • Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

  • Take frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces.

  • Never leave children or pets in vehicles.

  • Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.

The hottest day of the stretch is likely to be Thursday, when Metro Detroit could reach the lower 90s. Depending on sunshine and thunderstorm coverage, a few communities may push even higher.

For residents of the Thumb, temperatures will be somewhat cooler thanks to the moderating influence of Lake Huron. Highs there are expected to remain largely in the lower to middle 80s during the warmest part of the week.

Thunderstorm chances continue through Thursday and could briefly interrupt the heat. However, any breaks are expected to be short-lived, and many locations will spend much of the week feeling decidedly summerlike.

By Friday and next weekend, temperatures may ease slightly back into the upper 80s, although isolated showers and thunderstorms remain possible.

Share your weather photos and how you’re staying cool with Local 4 at MIPics.

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Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.



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Detroit, MI

2 men dead in unrelated overnight Detroit shootings

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2 men dead in unrelated overnight Detroit shootings


DETROIT (WXYZ) — Two men are dead after being shot in the early morning hours of Sunday, in what police say were separate incidents.

Both shootings took place in between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. We’re told that one shooting happened in the 19000 block of Kelly Road on Detroit’s east side, and the other happened in the 8700 block of Quincy Street on Detroit’s west side.

Authorities say that the circumstances that led up to each of these shootings are unknown. No suspects have been arrested in relation to these cases.





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Detroit, MI

Hundreds gather for rally against gun violence on Detroit’s east side

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Hundreds gather for rally against gun violence on Detroit’s east side


Community violence intervention groups, local organizations and law enforcement partners joined forces on Saturday to send a message that it’s time to put an end to gun violence in Detroit.

Hundreds attended the annual Silence the Violence rally on the city’s east side. One of the event’s participants, Latina Mack, is a member of the community violence intervention group Force Detroit.

“I combine myself with Force Detroit to be able to help these kids, to give them the resources, to provide opportunities for them, to do things that they have never done before,” Mack said.

In 2023, her 17-year-old son, Elijah, was killed in an accidental shooting.

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“My son’s death prompted me to want to do more. I just didn’t want anybody else to go through what I go through on a regular basis. Sometimes that’s the biggest thing, just showing up and letting people know I’m here.” Mack said.

Organizers say the rally and march are about honoring those lost to gun violence, bringing awareness to ongoing struggles and showing support to those who need it.

“It’s very, very important to the survivors, and it’s more than just the survivors as it relates to the families, but the whole community is surviving this stuff because they seen it,” Dujuan Zoe Kennedy, executive director, Force Detroit, said.

Kennedy added that when it comes to gun violence, if you can predict it, you can prevent it.

“We know the root causes of violence are poverty. We know the root causes of violence are psychological, emotional and mental wellness. So we have to provide those things, we have to be there, we have to be trauma-informed and we have to operate and provide economic mobility,” Kennedy said.

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One example of a community violence intervention success is Jordan Owens.

“I got a lot of good mentorship, and a lot of good guidance from them and I feel like I’m going down a better path,” Owens said.

The 16-year-old was arrested with a gun just a few years ago.

“I wasn’t necessarily beefing with people doing that, but people were in my neighborhood getting robbed, killed, hurt and I felt like I just needed protection at my age. I felt like I didn’t have nobody to protect me and I felt like I had to do it myself,” Owens said.

Now he realizes that’s not the case.

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“It’s more to life than just all of this stuff in the neighborhoods and all of that. We all have the opportunity to change our lives and do better, and you just have to want that change for yourself.”

Owens has become an entrepreneur, starting both landscaping and car detailing services.

“I’d love to be a good community member, speaking to the youth and stuff like that, and doing more stuff like this. And I just want to go to college, continue with my businesses,” Owens said.



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