LAYTON—Senate President Stuart Adams will never forget his experience in Ukraine visiting government officials and talking to the people. Adams was part of a state delegation that recently traveled to Ukraine with two missions – humanitarian and economic development.

“I’ve never been prouder to be from Utah,” said Adams. “When we showed up in Ukraine we met with the U.S. Ambassador first. She said she wasn’t surprised that Utah would be the first state to show up. She knew how great Utah is.”

Utah is recognized as the best spot for business, he said. “We’re number one in giving. Our capacity to give and our strong economy, they know that Utah leads the nation in both.”

Adams said the delegation had two real missions, “The first is humanitarian. The effort was led by two humanitarian organizations, August Mission and To Ukraine With Love. August Mission received a donation of $20 million for clothing and bedding. The Malouf Foundation donated mattresses. Resources people need to survive.”

To Ukraine With Love is building houses for those who lost theirs, he said. “They’ve built 120 homes but they’re on their way to building over a thousand homes. The money for those homes is donated by Utah companies.”

The second mission was to help Ukraine with economic development and military capacity, said Adams. “We’re giving them the expertise to help with the war. Defense companies help the economy with military expertise. Utah members of tech companies went on a trade mission with us and found multiple ways to partner with Ukrainian companies.”

They hire tech engineers remotely, he said. “They continue to help the economy to keep it running and help win the war and help after the assistance runs out. If you give someone a job they don’t need assistance.”

Adams said they met with all of the cabinet members. “When they met with us they were so impressed with the Utah delegation. They asked a group of us to stay and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”

The group also traveled in areas of Ukraine that had previously been occupied by Russian troops, he said. “We talked to the people and they told us what they (Russians) did. They shot men, women and children and dumped the bodies into mass graves. When the graves were excavated the bodies were unrecognizable. It reminded me of the Holocaust.”

They heard the stories of people in occupied Ukraine, said Adams. “They would require their kids to go to summer camp. They went but never came back. An organization has brought back about 100 kids that have been kidnapped. Utah is helping with its children's justice expertise.”

It was quite a trip, Adams said. “I cannot be prouder to be from Utah.”