When War Becomes Personal
A Latvian Climbs Everest and Skis to the South Pole With the Ukrainian Flag
To draw the world’s attention to the war against Ukraine, Juris Ulmanis, a Latvian-American volunteer, carried the Ukrainian flag to the top and bottom of the world - to the summit of Mount Everest in 2023, and in 2025, skiing for 16 days through the icy silence of Antarctica, to the South Pole.
Both expeditions and his book When War Becomes Personal were dedicated to his fallen Ukrainian friends - soldiers with the call signs Alpinist, Finn, The Quiet One, Compass, and Godfather, who died fighting on the front lines.
During a recent visit to Canada, Juris met with a few of us at Mriya Aid to share his experience and learn about our work in Ukraine. His story touched us deeply. We share it here, with his permission.
“When I went to help the Ukrainians, I became a witness.”
Juris was born in New York to Latvian parents who fled Soviet occupation during World War II. He grew up in a diaspora community, constantly hearing about the Latvia his parents lost. "We never really believed it would become free again," he says. "To us kids, it felt like a dream."
But the dream came true. When Latvia regained independence in the early 1990s, Juris was working for Motorola in Chicago. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he asked to be transferred to Europe, closer to the Baltics. The company agreed. He eventually moved to Riga and in 2005 decided to make Latvia his permanent home. He married, raised a family, became a professor of marketing, and dove into civic life.
Then came 2014 and with it the war in Ukraine. "It woke something within me," he says. In 2016, he traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer, delivering aid to children who had lost parents in the war. That was just the beginning.
“My moral compass says - if my neighbour’s house is on fire, I go and help to put it out.”
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Juris decided to join the International Legion to support Ukraine in the fight on the frontlines. Although he was turned away for “being too old” and having no combat experience, he didn’t give up. "We share an enemy," he says simply.
In April 2022, Juris traveled to Ukraine with Gundars Kalve, a fellow Latvian known for dismantling part of a Soviet war monument when authorities wouldn’t do so. The pair ended up on the frontline near Izium, one of the most dangerous places in the Kharkiv region. "We were under drone fire. A missile hit the building we had just slept in. We didn’t understand everything the Ukrainians were saying, and that’s when I realized I could help more from behind the lines."
He put his experience and strengths to work: bearing witness, raising awareness, fundraising, and getting supplies to where they were needed.
Juris focused on two front-line units, raising funds and delivering medical kits, drones, night vision goggles, and generators. But when donations slowed down in 2023, Juris did something bold and symbolic: he carried the Ukrainian flag to the top of the world. And 18-months later, he planted this flag of freedom and courage in the snow at the bottom of the Earth.
"These flags are for my fallen friends," he says quietly. "When you know their names, when you’ve looked into their eyes, the war becomes personal."
Today, Juris visits schools, libraries, and diaspora communities, telling the story of Ukraine through the stories of those who defend freedom. He speaks of seeing the photo of his late commander Godfather in Kyiv on a wall of fallen heroes. "I came closer. I bowed my head. And for a second, I could swear there was a tear in his eye."
He does not plan to stop.
“The Ukrainians are doing the hard part. The least we can do is not look away.”
Juris has spent years supporting Ukraine in any way he can. For him, these soldiers are not statistics or strangers. They are brothers. Telling their stories and conveying Ukraine’s struggle to the world challenges the invaders’ lies, evil and criminality.
“In war, thre are no half-tones. There is only an aggressor and a victim who defends their country.”
The Mriya Aid team is deeply honoured to call Juris Ulmanis a friend. His courage, commitment and quiet determination reflect the very spirit of solidarity and connection we work to support. Like us, he stands with Ukrainians - to the end, to Victory.
We are sincerely grateful to the Latvian community in Canada for introducing us to Juris and for generously supporting Mriya Aid’s 2025 Spring Campaign which supplied 100 Armed Forces of Ukraine deminers with anti-drone detection devices that warn them of approaching Russian drones sent to drop deadly munitions on their units. The solidarity and support of good people like Juris. his community, and our donors has a direct impact on saving lives!
Every gesture of solidarity, every story told, and every life saved helps Ukraine survive and keep standing up to the brutality and devastation brought by Russian invasion, occupation and subjugation. Every contribution counts. Mriya Aid is fundraising again for the next batch of life-saving equipment for those defending Ukraine.
“The secret to happiness is freedom… and the secret to freedom is courage.” Juris Ulmanis
