Ukrainian citizens visit Iowa as part of ‘Combating Government Corruption’ program

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s been almost two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting a war and causing turmoil. Ukrainians aren’t giving up hope and some are even visiting the United States to learn how they can help their home country.

Last week, five young professionals from Ukraine visited Des Moines. The group made up of a couple of lawyers, an investigative journalist, and a digital expert visited Iowa’s capital city to learn more about “Combating Government Corruption.” It’s a project made possible by the federal International Visitor Leadership Program.

“We are able to invite them over here and invite them to Iowa and experience it and also you know give them tools and exchange ideas with them and make them stronger when they go back,” International Visitor Program Manager Hannah Huisman with the Iowa International Center said.

The Iowa International Center arranged meetings with members of the Iowa Supreme Court, the Iowa Office of Ombudsman, and even State Auditor Rob Sand.

“It’s not a secret that the United States is the example of how to provide good governance,” Taras Shcherbai, a prosecutor with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, said.

They hope that talking with different government officials will help them in their fight for freedom.

“Of course, we wish we didn’t have to deal with these things,” Inna Popovych, an investigative journalist, said, “but this is our life. We live it and we have to do it.”

Visiting Iowans at their homes provides a takeaway too.

“It not only helps the visitors learn more about Americans and Iowans and their way of life, but also it helps Iowans learn more about people from different countries,” Huisman said.

A learning opportunity providing hope for the future.

“We’ll continue fighting for our independence,” Mstyslav Banik, with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, said.

“We are fighting not only for our own home, we are fighting for world values,” Shcherbai SAID.

“Our victory will be next,” Roman Verbovskiy, a lawyer with the Anti-Corruption Action Center, said. 

The group visited Washington, D.C. and Reno, Nevada before coming to Iowa. They’ll visit Dallas, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio next before heading back home to Ukraine.