“I won’t be silenced” — Ukrainian migrant in Cody honored for activism

POWELL — Knowing that speaking up against the enemy at your front door is dangerous, Yulia Matviyenko-Piazza considered the example she would be providing for her children when she decided to speak out against Russia's attack on Ukraine.

"If my children asked me, 'What did you do when the war started? How did you help?' If I say that I just felt bad for myself but was quiet ... it would be difficult for me to look in the mirror into my own eyes," she said in an interview with the Tribune.

Her courage and persistence in using her voice to support Ukraine during the war has landed her on the cover of Marigold Magazine, a magazine advocating for Ukrainian women, in an article about 10 activist women who refuse to be silenced.

Matviyenko-Piazza may speak softly, but her actions have been getting her noticed. Yulia moved to Cody with her husband Nick Piazza and two young children from Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv prior to the start of the war.

Since Feb. 24, 2022, Matviyenko-Piazza has only been able to go back once to see her family and friends who are unable to flee the constant attacks on civilian targets.

This past Monday, Russia launched more than 100 drone attacks on Kyiv.

The war has lasted more than three years now and shows few signs of ending soon. And despite warnings from the United Nations that targeting civilians could be considered a war crime, Russia has shown no commitment to stop its attacks at this point.

As of March 31, 43,610 civilian casualties have been verified during Russia's invasion, including 12,910 deaths and 30,700 injured.

However, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine explicitly states these numbers are likely undercounts, acknowledging difficulties in verification due to ongoing hostilities and limited access, especially in Russian controlled areas.

Matviyenko-Piazzaspeaks to her family and friends in Ukraine every day possible. But there are times when they can't contact each other for long periods due to blackouts and the chaos that comes with living in a war zone. It's impossible for Matviyenko-Piazza to relax not knowing what is happening at home.

Her fear and frustration — even panic at times — leads to many tears.

Prior to the war, Matviyenko-Piazza was forced to avoid travel during Covid restrictions for 18 months, thinking at the time it would be the longest period in her life that she wouldn't be able to see her home or family. The war has changed her thinking.

Now, with her husband packing for a trip to Kyiv, Matviyenko-Piazza digs deep, finding the courage to be supportive on the outside but filled with worry and fear on the inside.

"I'm just pretending that I'm smiling [knowing Nick is leaving], but I'm crying inside of myself," she said.

The couple refuses to travel to Ukraine together, fearing both could be captured or killed, leaving their children as orphans.

"We have a rule: We decided that we wouldn't take the kids back to Ukraine until there's commercial airline travel available," Nick said, adding that he hopes it is soon.

Finding ways to help

Yet despite being about 4,400 miles from her home in Kyiv, the couple is doing everything they can to help.

While Nick assisted the war effort by outfitting and arming Ukrainians as well as financially supporting a battalion of American military veterans willing to help defend Kyiv, Yulia began helping Ukrainians who wanted to flee the fighting with their families — often with young children.

Of course, for thousands of dollars lawyers are happy to help Ukrainians through the process and paperwork of the U.S. Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program to find asylum in the U.S.

Realizing help was needed, Yulia taught herself to become an expert in the process — one that she had already been through — and started sponsoring families "free of charge," she said.

The Piazza's have sponsored 50 Ukrainians to legally come to America through the U4U program since the start of the war. Their actions have inspired others to help rescue dozens more.

Yulia jokes about becoming an "immigration lawyer" since the war began. After she started doing consultations in Wyoming, requests for help started pouring in from other states.

"At one point, I was working with visas for Ukrainians all around the world," she said.

When the war hit, the process to come to America was difficult. Applications took hours to fill out and required hard to get documents. But her work didn't stop with the paperwork.

"When Ukrainians started coming here, I was helping them to apply for Social Security numbers because they needed to work, and other logistics, like enrolling children to school and so on," she said.

At the same time she saw the reaction to the absolute chaos of prolonged war while communicating with family and friends who are unable to or refused to leave. While speaking with one of her best friends, the woman tried to convince Yulia everything would be alright as she remained in Kyiv. Yet, Yulia could feel her exhaustion and stress — even hearing the bombs exploding in nearby neighborhoods.

"She was looking like a panda, with dark circles around her eyes. She was very tired as Russians were bombing Kyiv each day for a month ... so she doesn't sleep, right? And then during the day she is working and taking care of your children," Yulia said "She can't stop doing this." It's difficult on both ends of the call. Yulia said, "I feel that I'm in some horror movie while listening to them."

'We must win'

Here in America, the war in Ukraine has moved from the front pages and as lead items on most news broadcasts. The war continues to take its toll while Russia and Ukraine have taken time to get to the negotiating table. Some have asked Yulia if Ukraine still has the support of Americans.

"I send them videos and pictures and text messages from my American friends that support Ukraine," she said. "My grandma asked me, 'Do you think that Americans hate Ukraine and they will support Russia now?' And I told her no, it will not happen."

There may be fewer signs of support now, but every time Yulia and Nick see a Ukrainian flag flying in Wyoming, they know people still support their cause.

"When we went to Florida, there were so many Ukrainian flags. I took pictures and sent them to my friends and relatives, and they were so happy to see that," Yulia said.

The Piazzas have started a foundation called the Ukrainian Future Business Council. It is a 501(c)(4) organization chartered in the state of Wyoming for the express purpose of promoting the economic security and development of Ukraine.

Established by a congregation of American and Ukrainian citizens, the council strives to create a business environment that will foster a fair and healthy economic climate in Ukraine.

Nick has spent so much time in Washington, D.C., lobbying Congress that he purchased a residence there so he could keep their message fresh with U.S. politicians.

"We've been preaching, let's talk more," Nick said. "No one wants this war to continue, but it's got to end in a reasonable way. And you know, in my opinion, President Trump took a lot of ownership of this war, saying he was gonna end it in 24 hours. So, he doesn't want a failed situation on his hands. I mean, if there's one thing we know about that guy, he's pretty tenacious when he wants something, and he's big on succeeding."

For Yulia and her family and friends still surviving the war in Ukraine, it doesn't matter who the leaders are or what people say. The only way to exist is to continue to fight for autonomy and freedom, she said.

"I will do everything I can to be helpful and useful, and I'm ready to do so," she said, unafraid of reprisals.

Until the next project emerges, Yulia will try to at least seem positive, even if she is worried about her family.

"I believe 100% that Ukraine will win. We don't have another choice. It's the situation that if you lose, you lose everything," Yulia said. "That's why we must win."

This story was published on May 22, 2025.