Ukrainian soldiers in Chicago to commemorate the fallen in Memorial Day run at Soldier Field

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There was a powerful symbol of solidarity between two nations on Friday

A group of Ukrainian soldiers is in Chicago to commemorate fallen soldiers here and abroad for this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

They are being welcomed by a community that's thanking them for their sacrifices, as a war rages on in their homeland.

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It is a well-needed mental break from the horror of war. About 10 active-duty Ukrainian soldiers are in Chicago to run in a Soldier Field race Saturday, but on Friday, they had a tour of Ukrainian Village that began at the Ukrainian National Museum.

A damaged drone and anti-Putin art work are just parts of a war exhibit far from Ukraine, but mentally close to home for the active-duty Ukrainian soldiers. They are visiting Chicago and the United States for the first time.

"All of them are wounded in different situations," said Volodymyr Havrylov, retired Ukrainian Major General and former Deputy Minister of Defense. "They represent different services, starting from air force to special operation units."

Havrylov is part of a project to give wounded warriors a mental break through sports.

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The group of soldiers plan to participate in Saturday's Memorial Day 10 Mile at Soldier Field. Friday, they walked to some of Ukrainian Village's sites, including the Ukrainian National Museum and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. The war was front and center at both locations.

"We to demonstrate people here that we are not victims in this war. We are victors," Havrylov said. "Come into the day when we will finally announce everybody that we survive this war."

Havyrlov says the men he brought together are all from different units. Most have been in the military since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, and again in 2022. No one knew each other in Ukraine, but now in Chicago, they are friends.

There were smiles on their faces as they tried some basketball at the St. Nicholas Cathedral school. One soldier showed off his musical skills.

"I would just praise them for what they have done, being so brave to go on the battlefield, fight for my country, for their country," St. Nicholas Cathedral student Rostyslav Yevstratenko said.

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Ukrainian students ate lunch with the soldiers. It was followed by a prayer service.

"It's like hard to see them, because it's like they're gonna go back, and it's not that safe, so it's kind of like scary," St. Nicholas Cathedral student Zlata Potoki said.

The soldiers will return to the front lines, but Ret. Major General Havyrlov says after their experience in Chicago, the men will go back to Ukraine with hope.

"There, the eyes will be bright. The internal world will change," Havyrlov said. "They will come to the units absolutely different guys. They will send that message to others that there is the light in the end of the life."

The soldiers' day ended in Bloomingdale at the St. Andrew Ukrainian National Church. All the men have been injured in the war. The Soldier Field run on Saturday will include wounded warriors who are amputees.