Montana

Outrageous reason Montana woman is being forced to send her three-year-old daughter back to brutal war zone

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Outrageous reason Montana woman is being forced to send her three-year-old daughter back to brutal war zone

A Ukrainian mother taking refuge in Montana is being forced to send her toddler daughter back to the war-ridden country.

Zhanna Kulahina, 26, and her three-year-old, Maria evacuated to Bozeman through the United for Ukraine program in August 2023.

‘We lived a happy life, and unfortunately, the war changed everything. Every night when we heard bomb and yes, we tried to be in a bomb shelter or basement, wherever I can find a safe place for Maria,’ she told KBZK.

‘Maybe we can be a victim of this war.’

Since then, the single mother has been working as a dental technician, volunteering at Bozeman Health and studying to become accredited to practice dentistry in the US while Maria attends preschool.

However, Zhanna’s ex-husband who lives in their home country filed a lawsuit against her, claiming that she had kidnapped Maria.

After months of a legal battle, the United States District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled Maria should return to her father in Ukraine two days before Christmas.

‘If she returned to Ukraine, she could die there. It’s a really terrible situation because it’s my child, it’s my baby.

Zhanna Kulahina, 26, and her three-year-old, Maria evacuated to Bozeman through the United for Ukraine program in August 2023

However, Zhanna’s ex-husband who lives in their home country filed a lawsuit against her – claiming that she had kidnapped Maria

‘If she returned to Ukraine, she could die there. It’s a really terrible situation because it’s my child, it’s my baby,’ Zhanna said

‘We are in a safe place now; how do we return to Ukraine where so many children and babies die? I can’t imagine how it’s possible,’ Zhanna told KTVH.

According to the court order, Maria will need to return to Ukraine by February 3.

Neighbors have quickly banded together to help the mother and daughter with legal costs and provide emotional support.

A GoFundMe was launched soon after the lawsuit began to provide aid for the pair.

‘Zhanna was peacefully rebuilding a life for herself and her daughter until this past August, when she was unexpectedly served with a lawsuit brought by her ex-husband (who continues to reside in Ukraine) which claims that Zhanna abducted their child,’ the description reads.

‘The ex-husband’s case, which was filed in federal district court, suggests that Zhanna illegally removed their daughter from her country of habitual residence and required that she return to Ukraine — regardless of the grave risk of such a move.

‘The federal judge in this case was aware that the ex-husband willingly escorted Zhanna and her daughter to the train station in their hometown of Odesa two years ago so that they could flee to neighboring Moldova.

‘The judge also knows that, on average, Odesa gets hit with a missile, drone strike, or bomb every sixth day, and he knows that air raid sirens go off no less than once every three days in the other cities.

After months of a legal battle, the United States District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled Maria should return to her father in Ukraine two days before Christmas

Neighbors have quickly banded together to help the mother and daughter with legal costs and provide emotional support

‘A return to an existence that is defined by fear of air raid sirens and explosions would be deeply damaging for both Zhanna and her child. It’s unfathomable.

‘It is our understanding that the ex-husband has hired an attorney pro bono to represent him. Because the case involves a complicated international human rights dispute in federal court, dozens of expert witnesses, multiple translators and two local lawyers, it will be a financially costly one, to say nothing of the emotional toll it will surely take on Zhanna and her daughter.’

As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $645 toward its $14,000 goal. About $34,000 has already been raised by friends for the duo.

It remains unclear if Zhanna will try to have the decision appealed.

On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump announced he has pushed back his deadline for ending the Russia-Ukraine war despite having vowed to end the conflict within ’24 hours’ of becoming president.

The US president-elect now aims to end the war against Ukraine within 100 days of his inauguration, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s choice for special Ukraine peace envoy, told Fox News on Wednesday.

‘This is a war that needs to end, and I think he can do it in the near term,’ Kellogg, 80, added, defining ‘near term’ as just over 14 weeks out from inauguration.

The comments come after Trump revealed in a press conference that he would not launch peace talks until after he takes office on January 20.

According to the court order, Maria will need to return to Ukraine by February 3

This is despite having repeatedly pledged during his campaign to end the war as soon as he was elected.

‘People need to understand, he’s not trying to give something to Putin or to the Russians, he’s actually trying to save Ukraine and save their sovereignty,’ Kellogg said.

‘And he’s going to make sure that it’s equitable and it’s fair’.

The US diplomat praised the president-elect for his willingness to meet with Vladimir Putin and said the outgoing president Joe Biden’s ‘biggest mistake’ was his refusal to work with the Russian President.

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Montana

Clark Fork River remains central to Missoula’s identity, conservation groups say

Published

1 hour ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

Clark Fork River remains central to Missoula’s identity, conservation groups say

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Clark Fork River has long been a defining feature of Missoula, shaping the city’s culture, economy and outdoor lifestyle.

The river is so closely tied to the area that it helped inspire the well-known book and film “A River Runs Through It.” But local conservation advocates say its importance goes far beyond scenery.

“Without the Clark Fork River, Missoula would just be another town,” said Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies associate conservation director for American Rivers. “We wouldn’t be the River City. I think we’re known in Montana as Missoula the River City, and it’s really because of the Clark Fork River and its central role in business, in economics, in recreation, that really makes Missoula the town that it is.”

Carmen Murill, a field organizer with Wild Montana, said the river is deeply woven into daily life for people who live in Missoula.

“A lot of us would wonder what to do on a beautiful or a rainy summer day,” Murill said. “I mean, it’s really a lifeforce of town. And I think it’s pretty unique that Missoula, as a community is living and breathing on both sides of the river. It’s really like two downtowns but connected by the Clark Fork.”

Conservation groups say protecting the river begins with community involvement.

Advocates encourage residents and visitors to spend time outdoors, whether on a trail, in the woods or along the river, and to learn how they can become better stewards of the environment.

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Montana

Forstag secures democratic nomination for Western Montana Congressional District

Published

12 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Forstag secures democratic nomination for Western Montana Congressional District

MISSOULA — Sam Forstag edged out Ryan Busse to secure the Democratic nomination in Montana’s 1st Congressional District.

Busse conceded the race to Forstag on Wednesday morning. Forstag had trailed behind Busse Tuesday evening, but he made up ground as the votes were counted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The other two candidates in the race, Russl Cleveland and Matt Rains, are sitting at third and fourth, respectively.

Forstag leads in close race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District

Forstag spent eight years as a wildland firefighter, including four as a smokejumper, and he’s been vice president of the local National Federation of Federal Employees union. Last week, U.S. House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, held a rally in Missoula to support Forstag’s campaign.

He told MTN on Tuesday that his campaign has been for the working class.

“We got a whole lot of people here that have been working their tail off to finally get some working-class representation in Washington,” Forstag noted. “So proud of everything we’ve done and so grateful.”

Forstag further noted he wants Montanans to be able to afford groceries, have universal free childcare and restore and expand Affordable Health Care Act subsidies.

“Hearing people’s stories and struggles and commonalities in the ways that we’re all fighting in the system that does not serve us so often, and the government serves corporations and the richest people in this country more than working people. It has been frustrating and saddening, but it has also inspired so much hope in me, like the fixes we can actually make,” he told MTN.

The 1st Congressional District covers much of western Montana, including Kalispell, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. It is currently held by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, who chose not to seek reelection.

By securing the nomination, Forstag is slated tol face off against Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy and Republican candidate Aaron Flint in November.

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Montana

In eastern Montana, Brian Miller wins Democratic primary for U.S. House • Daily Montanan

Published

22 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

In eastern Montana, Brian Miller wins Democratic primary for U.S. House • Daily Montanan

Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.

The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.

In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.

Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.

In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.

In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”

Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.

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