UCARE: Nearly Three Decades of Hope and Healing for Ukraine’s Children
Rooted in Ukrainian Heritage In Vera Petrusha’s childhood home in Detroit circa 1960, the sound of the Ukrainian language was ever-present. Saturday mornings weren’t for cartoons like they were for so many American children — they were for Ukrainian school, where Vera...
UCARE: Nearly Three Decades of Hope and Healing for Ukraine’s Children
Rooted in Ukrainian Heritage In Vera Petrusha’s childhood home in Detroit circa 1960, the sound of the Ukrainian language was ever-present. Saturday mornings weren’t for cartoons like they were for...
Eight Weeks in Ukraine: Bearing Witness to Resilience and Resistance
Beyond the Headlines: Life in Ukraine War is often reduced to headlines and statistics — numbers that blur together over time, stripped of the human stories behind them. What those headlines often don't convey is the reality of living through a war that is constant:...
Celebrate the Season at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Christmas Bazaar
Experience Ukrainian Holiday Traditions at St. Mary’s Christmas Bazaar St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, Florida, is once again opening its doors for one of its most cherished annual celebrations — the St. Mary’s Christmas Bazaar. This festive...
Dream Trains – Voices of Hope
In our recent Spotlight Ukraine stories — UCARE: Nearly Three Decades of Hope and Healing for Ukraine’s Children and My Home — Ukraine: Through the Eyes of Children — we explored how the nonprofit organization, UCARE, has transformed lives by meeting Ukrainian...
My Home — Ukraine: Through the Eyes of Children
In our recent blog article, UCARE: Nearly Three Decades of Hope and Healing for Ukraine’s Children, we introduced readers to the important work of UCARE and its mission to support vulnerable children across Ukraine. This follow-up highlights one of UCARE’s recent...
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Welcome to Spotlight Ukraine
Sharing stories. Celebrating culture. Supporting Ukraine.
Spotlight Ukraine was launched a few weeks after the full-scale invasion in 2022. A small team—some with deep ties to Ukraine, others moved to act in solidarity, created this platform to keep Ukraine in focus—especially when the world’s attention turns elsewhere.
We’re on a mission to support the Ukrainian people and a secure, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine—and to help preserve Ukraine’s unique cultural identity—through the power of storytelling, advocacy, and collaboration with those who stand with Ukraine.
Here, we share personal stories from Ukrainians, volunteers, and others on the ground in Ukraine, the Ukrainian diaspora, and those working around the world to support Ukraine—alongside insights into Ukraine’s rich culture and enduring spirit. This space is for everyone—whether you’re connected by heritage, motivated to support Ukraine, or simply curious.
By sharing the beauty of Ukraine’s culture and her people, we also aim to reawaken support—from new audiences and those who may have turned away—for Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty, lasting peace, and a free and prosperous future.
Discover and Celebrate Ukrainian Culture
Explore Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage—from folk traditions and national cuisine to music, art, and everyday rituals that reflect the heart of a nation.
Experience an Unforgettable Interactive Event: ‘Innovative Technology and Art in the Ukrainian War’
Join an in-person event in the heart of New York to experience an...
Mark Your Calendar: Experience the Powerful Performance of ‘Cry of a Nation’
'Cry of a Nation': Vasyl Stus's Enduring Legacy - Echoes of Relevance in...
‘Portrait Ukraine’ Photography Exhibition: Capturing Faces of Resistance Amid The Chaos of War
Mark Your Calendar for a Must-See Photo Exhibition! We’re excited to...
Let’s #ShineALight Together: A Call to Illuminate Holodomor Awareness
Shining a Light on the Holodomor: A Global Remembrance and Call to Action...
Tribute to a Fallen Hero
"Myth" and "Hero of Ukraine" On February 24, 2022, the world was jolted...
Celebrating Ukraine’s Constitution Day: Upholding Democratic Values
Honoring Ukraine's Constitution Day: Saluting the Courageous Defenders of...
Support To Make A Difference
We’ve partnered with and written about these incredible nonprofits. Click to learn more, get involved, and support their ongoing efforts for Ukraine.
Meet The Difference Makers
Read the stories of people across the globe stepping up in extraordinary ways to support Ukraine—from grassroots volunteers and aid workers to nonprofit teams and global citizens—helping to drive hope and support for Ukraine and her people.
Hand in Hand: How Cooperation and Grit Are Keeping Aid Flowing to Ukraine
Spotlight Ukraine continues its series on grassroots collaboration and...
The Difference Makers: Delivering A New Medical Aid Shipment to Combat Ukraine’s Dire Health Crisis
War leaves wounds far beyond the battlefield. In Ukraine,...
Ukrainian Voices: Volunteering in Ukraine
Unbreakable Spirit: How Ukrainians Support Each Other Through War In the...
Be The First To Know
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Join Events & Other Happenings
A Time to Pray for the Children of Ukraine and Their Mothers
On May 10th, over Mother’s Day weekend, the Ukrainian National Women’s...
Discover the Timeless Art of Ukrainian Easter Eggs and the Stories They Tell
Exploring The Art of Pysanky at the Selby Library With Easter just around...
Join The Celebration of Ukrainian Culture, Cuisine, Community — and Faith
Discover, Savor, and Celebrate Ukrainian Traditions at St. Mary’s Easter...
Support To Make A Difference
We’ve partnered with and written about these incredible nonprofits. Click to learn more, get involved, and support their ongoing efforts for Ukraine.
Featured Blog Series
Portrait Ukraine
A powerful photojournalism series by longtime Spotlight Ukraine collaborator Allan Mestel—capturing the human stories behind the war—voices of courage, loss, and unbreakable spirit.
Ravaged Classrooms and Resilient Hearts: Kharkiv’s Battle for Education
Portrait Ukraine 2023 This is the latest blog from our Portrait Ukraine 2023 series, following the journey of photojournalists Allan Mestel and David Graham through Ukraine and providing a firsthand view of current events on the ground. Through the art of powerful...
Echoes of War and Resilience: A Journey to Izium, Ukraine
Portrait Ukraine 2023 This is the latest blog from our Portrait Ukraine 2023 series, following the journey of photojournalists Allan Mestel and David Graham through Ukraine and providing a firsthand view of current events on the ground. Through the art of powerful...
Seeing The Devastation Up Close
Portrait Ukraine 2023 This is the latest blog from our Portrait Ukraine 2023 series, following the journey of photojournalists Allan Mestel and David Graham through Ukraine and providing a firsthand view of current events on the ground. Through the art of powerful...
Where Memory Builds the Future
Portrait Ukraine 2023 This is the latest blog from our Portrait Ukraine 2023 series, following the journey of photojournalists Allan Mestel and David Graham through Ukraine and providing a firsthand view of current events on the ground. Through the art of powerful...
The Long Road to Kyiv: A Journey of Resilience, Unity, and Hope
The Portrait Ukraine 2023 Project: Day 1 By David GrahamReporting from Ukraine Getting to Kyiv is more than a physical journey—it's a voyage of human resilience, solidarity, and an incredible opportunity to shed light on the stories of the Ukrainian people. The...
Revealing the Untold Stories One Frame at a Time: Portrait Ukraine 2023
Unveiling the Heart of Ukraine In the face of the ongoing war, when the world often reduces crises to cold statistics and faceless figures, the true power of personal storytelling emerges as a beacon of understanding and compassion. Spotlight Ukraine stands at the...
Be The First To Know
Join our email list to receive regular updates on the Portrait Ukraine Project, upcoming exhibitions, insightful blogs, and the latest campaigns by Spotlight Ukraine.
Don’t worry, we won’t overwhelm you with too many emails. And rest assured, you’re in control – unsubscribe at any time with ease.
Don’t miss out on the latest news and events. Sign up now!
Featured Blog Series
Unsung Heroes
Photographed by Spotlight Ukraine collaborator Allan Mestel, this series follows his journey through Ukraine as he documents the quiet strength and lifesaving work of individuals supported by the nonprofit United Help Ukraine.
PORTRAIT UKRAINE: Sharing the Untold Stories. Documenting the Truth. Revealing the Soul of Ukraine.
About The Portrait Ukraine Project In a world where crises are often reduced to cold statistics and faceless figures, the true power of personal storytelling emerges as a beacon of understanding and compassion. Personal narratives serve as a potent antidote to...
Featured Videos
KOLO: A Celebration of the Dance, Visual and Musical Heritage of Ukrainian Culture
Video courtesy of Relevant Communications. Use of these images without prior written consent from Relevant Communications is strictly prohibited.
At the Borders of Humanity
The story of documentary photographer Allan Mestel’s journey to the Poland/Ukraine border.