Oksana Zavadenko moved to the United States seven years before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But Russia was still the reason she moved.
Zavadenko stayed in Ukraine for a year after Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. It was her fourth year in the country after moving back from the U.S. in 2011 to be with her family.
She and her children supported the soldiers in their defense of the country, but eventually, she decided it was best to return to the U.S.
“Because of that war, there was no safe life for my kids and their future,” said Zavadenko.
Now a resident of Sterling Heights, Zavadenko watched in February 2022 as Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Her parents live in Ternopil, where Russia bombed two residential buildings in November.
“People say, ‘War is still going on?’ Yes, it is. And there is no safe part. It’s like Russian roulette – you don’t know who’s going to be next, and when,” Zavadenko said.
Zavadenko was one of a few hundred people who on Sunday afternoon came to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit to protest Russia’s continued occupation of Ukraine. The demonstrators waved Ukrainian flags, gave speeches and listened to Ukrainian music.
The rally was held two days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country, which Russian President Vladimir Putin justified on a claim that a “neo-Nazi regime” in Ukraine needed to be combatted.
The war has displaced roughly 9 million people who have fled to western Ukraine or out of the country entirely. A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies published in January estimated combined casualties from the war could reach 2 million by springtime.
“It was so difficult and so dangerous in our country,” said Yevheniia Romanenko, who lived in the city of Lviv until 2024 and now lives in Troy as a refugee. Romanenko said she didn’t have water in her apartment before she came to the U.S.
World leaders this past week met in Geneva for peace talks, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said were insufficient for the interests of his country. Zelenskyy posted on X that Russia was making negotiations longer than they needed to be.
A White House spokesperson said “meaningful progress” was made at the talks, although President Donald Trump has consistently pressured Ukrainian leaders to agree to a peace deal that could mean conceding to Russian demands for land in the eastern part of the country.
Zavadenko said this is unacceptable. She believes Russia won’t stop there, pointing to the invasion after they seized Crimea.
“It’s not about the land or the mines and resources in that area. It’s about the people. They will not have a chance for a democratic life,” she said.
The Trump administration has criticized past support for Ukraine, arguing it costs taxpayers disproportionate amounts of money.
Michigan has the ninth-largest Ukrainian-American population in the United States, according to recent Census Bureau numbers. And on Sunday, immigrants and descendants from the country spoke well of the U.S.’s support for the country’s war efforts.
“So often, you speak about freedom. We now want this freedom,” Myroslav Dymuch, a priest at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, told the crowd at the rally.
“We are fighting for this freedom, and the example of this freedom. Thank you, our brother and sister Americans, for supporting. Together, we are fighting, and we will win, and peace will be in Ukraine,” Dymuch said.
Michael Sawicky, an attorney born to Ukrainian parents, wore a U.S. flag draped on his shoulders to the rally. He said it’s important to support Ukraine as a U.S. citizen because they’re fighting for “the basic principles that our country was founded on.”
“If we really want to stand for principles of democracy, then I think it’s important for the United States to support like-minded countries,” said Sawicky.
The rally was held as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown throughout the country. The administration recently instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to detain lawful refugees if they haven’t retained permanent residency a year after their admission to the U.S.
Ksenia Cozak, whose parents came to the U.S. when they were children during World War II, said the ICE crackdown was responsible for a smaller crowd at the rally than in 2025. She estimated about double attendance last year.
Multiple rally attendees also declined to speak to The Detroit News out of fear of ICE.
“Most of these people are here because of official U.S. programs. They followed the rules, they submitted all the paperwork, and they are here legally. And so I want to make sure that those people are not afraid to stay in the U.S., that they’re not afraid to go about their lives. But unfortunately, the actions of ICE are such that I cannot tell them, ‘Don’t be afraid,’” said Cozak. “I would be afraid if I was in their position, even if I were here legally.”
But those who did come to the rally said Ukraine needs to continue the fight for its freedom.
“If we would stop the fight, we will not exist anymore,” said Zavadenko. “Russia has to be the one who is forced to stop the war, because they are the ones who started it, who are continuing it.”
“I want this war to be not just stopped. I want to win this war, and it never happen again,” said Romanenko.
mbryan@detroitnews.com
Reuters contributed to this report.
DETROIT, MI (WXYZ) — The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition’s Black Legacy Day celebration is an intergenerational, joy filled gathering in Detroit, centered around authentic joy and liberation.
On Saturday, May 30th, Detroiters, neighbors, partners and friends of every race, creed and background are invited to share in a day of reflection and fun. Highlights will include a food giveaway, a scavenger race, a men’s basketball tournament and free justice resources.
To learn more, visit www.theblac.co.
St. Hubert pastor discusses the Archdiocese of Detroit’s restructuring
The Rev. Douglas Bignall of St. Hubert Catholic Church in Harrison Township discusses the ongoing restructuring effort by the Archdiocese of Detroit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
The list of churches targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to at least 58 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit had released as part of its major restructuring process through Friday.
At least 22 parishes under the first round of proposed models wouldn’t hold weekend Mass. The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The archdiocese has been holding listening sessions with parishioners this spring as part of its restructuring plan to get reactions.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes, in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Sunday Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit released on May 22 and this past week the model proposals for another five planning areas, including areas of Macomb County, Oakland County and Detroit. Around 36 more parishes would no longer hold Mass in the future under the latest proposals.
Bunches of churches in Detroit would be affected, while four parishes in Troy and three parishes in Clinton Township wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass under each of the proposed models presented for their planning areas.
Archdiocese of Detroit spokesperson Holly Fournier said the archdiocese has heard a wide range of reactions about the proposed models, which is “understandable given how personal parish life is for people.”
“Some pastors and parishioners are hopeful about opportunities for stronger collaboration and renewed ministry, while others are experiencing more uncertainty and concern, especially in places where one or more models suggest a parish might no longer host weekend Masses in the future,” she said.
Fournier emphasized that the models are “draft models” and aren’t final decisions.
The models for the final six planning areas will be released in June, according to the restructuring website.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings it has and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Fournier said the draft models were developed by priests earlier this year and are being presented in listening sessions as proposals “meant to spark broader consultation with the faithful.” Each parish in the archdiocese is holding listening sessions this spring or early summer.
In other dioceses that have undergone restructuring processes like the Archdiocese of Detroit’s, as many as 20-40% of the initial models were changed as a result of parishioner feedback, Fournier said.
“That is why it is so important for Catholics to attend their parish listening sessions to view these models and provide their honest feedback, so informed adjustments can be made where necessary,” she said in an email.
One of the most heavily affected groupings is Planning Area 1, which includes west Detroit. Ten of its 13 parishes would not have Saturday Vigil Mass or Sunday Mass in at least one of the model plans. They include Christ the King, Presentation/Our Lady of Victory, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit), SS. Peter and Paul (Westside), St. Charles Lwanga Church, St. Mary of Redford, St. Moses the Black Parish, St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Scholastica and St. Suzanne-Our Lady Gate of Heaven, all of which are in Detroit.
Planning Area 9, which includes southeastern Oakland County, has between 15 and 19 parishes, depending on the model. Ten of the parishes wouldn’t hold weekend Mass in at least one of the models. Four of them are in Troy.
They include St. Lucy in Troy, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy, Christ Our Light in Troy, St. Thomas More in Troy, St. Owen in Bloomfield Township, Our Lady of La Salette in Berkley, Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Oak Park, St. Justin-St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, St. Vincent Ferrer in Madison Heights and Divine Providence in Southfield.
Planning Area 10, which includes all of northern Oakland County and parts of western Oakland County, has 19 to 22 parishes, depending on the model. Seven would stop holding weekend Mass in at least one of the models, including St. Benedict in Waterford Township, St. Thomas More in Troy, Sacred Heart in Auburn Hills, St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish in Auburn Hills, St. Perpetua in Waterford Township, St. Rita in Holly and Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield Township.
Planning Area 12, which includes parts of southern and eastern Macomb County, has 16 parishes. Four Warren parishes and three Clinton Township parishes would stop holding Mass under the draft models.
St. Louise de Marillac in Warren wouldn’t hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in two of the three draft models presented by the archdiocese. Six other parishes would not hold weekend Mass in only one of the models, including St. Louis in Clinton Township, San Francesco in Clinton Township, St. Ronald in Clinton Township, St. Martin de Porres in Warren, St. Faustina in Warren and St. Mark in Warren.
Planning Area 13, which includes areas of central and northern Macomb County and a parish in Troy, has 14 or 16 parishes, depending on the draft model. Three parishes in the planning area wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models: St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Sterling Heights, St. Matthias in Sterling Heights and SS. John and Paul in Washington Township.
Amore said that if a church stops holding Sunday Mass, parishioners are encouraged to worship at other churches in their “pastorate,” which is a grouping of parishes overseen by a pastor. In the long term, the church building might close, or other sacramental celebrations might take place there, such as weddings and baptisms, he said.
The parish’s buildings could also be repurposed for other uses, such as religious education classes.
Fournier said the proposed models are meant to “foster discussion and discernment.”
“We encourage Catholics to stay engaged in the process, share their feedback honestly, and remember that the goal is not simply organizational change, but ensuring vibrant Catholic communities for future generations,” she said.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
Detroit’s dining scene just got even more flavorful with the opening of Sunda New Asian, bringing modern Southeast Asian cuisine to the city.
Restaurant owner Billy Dec joins the show to share what guests can expect from the new hotspot, from bold dishes and incredible cocktails to an energetic atmosphere.
Watch the video above to see what’s cooking up at Sunda New Asian.
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