Category: Clinic News

In December 2023, several buildings connected to Chicago’s Ukrainian community were vandalized with stickers displaying the letter “Z”—a symbol associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The stickers appeared at multiple locations throughout Ukrainian Village, including the Ukrainian National Museum, a local church, neighborhood businesses, and Ukrainian Village Veterinary Center. One was also placed on the Ukrainian-themed mural outside our clinic. 

While the marking may appear to be a simple letter, it carries a painful and threatening meaning for many Ukrainians. The “Z” has frequently appeared on Russian military vehicles and has become a symbol of support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Dr. Danylo Butenko spoke with WGN News about the incident and why the symbol is so deeply troubling to members of our community.

Ukrainian Village Veterinary Center is proud to be part of this neighborhood and remains committed to supporting Chicago’s Ukrainian community. Acts of intimidation will not diminish the strength, compassion, and resilience that define Ukrainian Village.

Watch and read the original WGN News report

In August 2022, Ukrainian Village Veterinary Center commissioned Chicago artist Sean Archer to create a mural outside our clinic at 1859 W. Chicago Avenue.

The original idea included children and pets, but conversations with Dr. Danylo Butenko led to something more deeply connected to Ukraine and the surrounding neighborhood. The finished mural, titled Flower Power, celebrates Ukrainian culture while offering a message of beauty, strength, and hope during the ongoing war.

Spanning approximately 60 feet, the mural depicts a young woman in traditional Ukrainian clothing opening a portal to a flower-filled landscape in the mountains of Ukraine. Sunflowers, poppies, marigolds, and viburnum—each meaningful within Ukrainian culture—appear throughout the design. Four red poppies in the woman’s floral headdress also provide a subtle tribute to the four red stars on the Chicago flag. 

The woman is not based on a specific person. Instead, she represents strength, determination, and the power to create something beautiful in the face of fear and suffering.

Artist Sean Archer has a personal connection to Ukraine through his wife and her family. He described the mural as an act of creation intended to push back against despair and the pain caused by the war.

For Dr. Butenko and Ukrainian Village Veterinary Center, the mural was an opportunity to share the richness and beauty of Ukrainian culture while adding a lasting symbol of hope to the neighborhood we are proud to serve.

Read the original Chicago Sun-Times feature

Muralists with ties to Ukrainian culture have recently painted the walls of West Side businesses in an effort to bring hope to a community still afflicted by war.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/artists-inspire-hope-through-murals-on-ukrainian-village-buildings/2941056/?fbclid=IwAR2Qv_w3-hDEfdzoUMlPw1WzkhYo-yD96mGAaCOSNv4EsSuzk2H4IwBEez0

In September 2022, NBC Chicago featured the artists and neighborhood businesses using public art to celebrate Ukrainian culture and inspire hope during the war in Ukraine.

Among the murals highlighted was Flower Power, the colorful, one-story artwork created by Chicago muralist Sean Archer outside Ukrainian Village Veterinary Center at the corner of Chicago and Wolcott avenues.

When Dr. Danylo Butenko first opened the veterinary practice, he imagined transforming the building’s plain exterior with a cheerful mural featuring children and pets. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the idea evolved into something more meaningful—a public celebration of Ukrainian culture, resilience, and hope.

The finished mural depicts a young Ukrainian woman dressed in shades of Chicago blue and wearing a crown of red poppies inspired by the stars on Chicago’s flag. From her outstretched hand emerges a flower-filled portal surrounded by traditional folk patterns. Sunflowers, poppies, marigolds, and viburnum berries were included because of their cultural significance in Ukraine.

Archer spent approximately two weeks painting the mural, often working eight hours a day. During that time, neighborhood residents and families stopped to watch its progress and discuss the new details appearing on the wall.

For Dr. Butenko, the completed mural accomplished exactly what he hoped it would: bring color to the neighborhood, celebrate the community, and offer an uplifting message during a difficult time.

The NBC Chicago report also featured another Ukrainian-themed mural created by artists SechoR and Conrad Edmonds near Oakley and Chicago avenues. Together, these large public artworks reflect the pride, creativity, strength, and resilience of Chicago’s Ukrainian community. 

Watch and read the original NBC Chicago story