For the members of the Oklahoma National Guard in Ukraine right now, the primary focus is on the mission of training Ukrainian soldiers. But, when they're not delivering their Help from the Heartland, many in the 45th Infantry Brigade are discovering a city, just a short drive away, that Ukrainians say is the soul of the country.

About 250 members of the Oklahoma National Guard have been in Ukraine since mid-January, and most still have about another three months before they come home. 

Spending almost a week in western Ukraine, February 27, 2017 until March 3, 2017, with the men and women of Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is easily one of the highlights of my long career as a journalist.