Several hundred people gathered at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Abington Monday to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with music, prayers and speeches.
While some fear President Donald Trump’s efforts to make peace will harm their beleaguered homeland, others hope the Republican president will finally bring an end to the bloody conflict.
UECC President Natalie Firko and Volodymyr Kravtso, executive director, welcomed the audience in English and Ukrainian.
Iryna Mazur, the honorary consul of Ukraine for Philadelphia, gave a fiery speech, warning Americans that history will judge them.
“This is the eyes of our children,” said Mazur. “Ukrainians have suffered from Russian invasions for centuries. Ukrainians were tortured and killed and raped. They were sent to Siberia.”
But Russia has not eliminated Ukraine.
“Ukraine still stands,” she said. “And Ukraine will stand because the Ukrainian people believe in God, and God is with us.”
“For the last three years, Americans exhibited enormous support for Ukraine at every different level,” she said. “Humanitarian, financial. And we are grateful. And I want to say thank you, America, for your support of Ukraine. And I truly believe the American people will not betray Ukraine…The American people still have the same values from 250 years ago when they fought for liberty and freedom. That’s what unites Ukraine and America.”
“When your grandchildren read history books, what are they going to read about America? I want to see America described as a great country…a country who defeated Russia, a country who destroyed Russia, that crushed Russia. I don’t want to see America described as a country of failed promises.”
Marcia Bronstein, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, and AJC board members offered their support. Their organization has been friends with the Ukrainian community since the late Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter introduced them in 1993, and Ukraine is “in our hearts and our prayers,” she said.
“No one understands the yearning of a free people, in a free homeland and living in peace more than the Jewish people,” said Bronstein. “We send our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We are inspired by your fight for freedom in the face of aggression.”
The Rev. Taras Naumenko, representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia, said his daughter’s fiancé is a soldier fighting in Ukraine and was twice wounded. His future son-in-law has been missing in action for the last two months.
“It seems our politicians, turning their backs on Ukraine, are turning their backs on all of us,” he said. “Our hearts are fully burdened by the sufferings of millions. Yet we are steadfast in our faith.”
“Thousands of children have been forcibly abducted from Ukraine and relocated to Russia,” he said. “We pray for their swift reunion with their loved ones.”
Bohdan, a soldier and medic who gave only his first name, remains optimistic that Ukraine can win the war, mentioning naval victories against the Russian fleet. He urged people not to lose hope and to continue supporting Ukraine.
Uri Goauz, a retired civil engineer from Brooklyn whose 5-year-old grandson, Theodore, sang with the children’s chorus, hopes Trump can settle the war.
“That’s what Trump said, ‘a few weeks,’” said Goauz. “I wish it’s going to be. That is enough.”
But Philadelphia resident Oksana Batsyk disagreed.
“I don’t think (the war will end soon) because of lack of support from the American president,” she said.
