Echoes from Ukraine

It is a warm October afternoon in Paris. In Taras Shevchenko Park, next to the Ukrainian church, people are gathering: families, students, volunteers, many carrying blue and yellow flags. Some have come for language classes, others are preparing for a demonstration later in the day, a rally for Ukraine, for victory, for hope. In the middle of this cheerful movement stands Volodymyr Kogutyak, smiling and greeting friends. It happens to be his birthday. “Z Dnem Narodzhennya”, they say, one after another, with warmth and laughter. We find a quiet bench at the edge of the park to talk.

Volodymyr Kogutyak at an anti-war rally in Paris

Balancing Two Lives

Born near Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine, Volodymyr Kogutyak moved to France at 11 with his parents. “When I’m in Ukraine, they call me French. In France, they call me Ukrainian,” he smiles. Today, he serves as Vice President of the Union of Ukrainians in France and Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress, while managing a commercial team in an IT company. Most of his civic work takes place on weekends or in the evenings. For him, there is always time when the cause truly matters.

From Student Circles to Global Advocacy

His civic journey began in 2013 as President of the Ukrainian Students’ Association of France. “I thought it would be about culture and parties,” he recalls with nostalgia. “Two weeks later, Maidan started. Everything changed.” Over time, his work evolved from student activism to community leadership.

The Union of Ukrainians in France now connects 174 local associations including schools, churches and cultural centers, forming one of the largest Ukrainian networks in Europe. In coordination with the Ukrainian World Congress, Volodymyr’s team works closely with the Office of the President of Ukraine and different Ministries, ensuring that the voices of Ukrainians abroad are heard and represented at the highest level. Recently, they played an active role in promoting the law on dual citizenship, a reform that marks an important step toward recognizing Ukrainians abroad as a vital part of the nation’s future. The change shows how state policy is gradually adapting to the reality of a global Ukrainian community.

Resilience and Renewal

Across Europe, the first wave of solidarity toward Ukrainians is fading. In France, financial aid for refugees is shrinking, especially in housing and social support. For Volodymyr Kogutyak, the answer lies in dignity. Supporting the most vulnerable remains vital, but younger Ukrainians, he insists, must now integrate, learn the language and contribute. “It’s a contribution, not a cost,” he says. Across Europe, many are already working, paying taxes and filling essential jobs. When peace comes, he believes, many will return to help rebuild. “Ukraine will live its own thirty glorious years,” he adds, envisioning a new era of reconstruction and pride.

Defense, Unity and Vigilance

Beyond humanitarian efforts, Volodymyr is also working on Europe’s strategic response. As one of the advocates behind the “Coalition of Volunteers” first proposed by Emmanuel Macron, he has gathered six French political parties, diplomats and former military officials to give the idea new life. The aim is not to send combat troops, but to reinforce deterrence and protect Europe’s borders. Yet he warns that Russian disinformation constantly seeks to erode this fragile unity. “Russia never attacks a stronger country. It creates chaos first.” For him, France’s stability is Europe’s foundation. His message is clear: Ukrainians abroad must stay united and dignified; Europeans must stay vigilant. “We once thought war couldn’t reach us,” he says. “We were wrong. It’s already here, just quieter.”

Between Paris and Ivano-Frankivsk, Volodymyr Kogutyak embodies a generation that has turned exile into purpose, building, organizing and preparing for the day they go home. As I leave the park, he stays behind, blending into the growing crowd, ready to march for Ukraine once more.