Vermonters will gather on the Statehouse lawn this evening for a vigil to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vermont Stands with Ukraine organized the vigil to demonstrate solidarity with the war-torn nation.
Co-organizer Jeanette Bacevius, a first-generation Ukrainian American, wanted to gather with other Ukrainians and the greater community on the anniversary.
“I really wanted to gather together for support. To gather together to let people know that this invasion and war is still happening in Ukraine and that we support Ukraine, we stand in solidarity with them. I also want to be there for other Ukrainians. There’ll probably be some newcomers, refugees who have come during this year who live in Vermont now, to show our support to them. To also honor all those who have lost their lives in this war, and the heroes and the defenders and so much more. It just seems really important to gather on this important date.”
Yana Walder came to Vermont in 2001 and says she is co-organizing the candlelight vigil to be in community with other Ukrainians.
“I do have family in Ukraine. My mom is there. My sister and her two kids and my sister’s husband, and I have friends who are still in Ukraine and other family members. I have a family member who serves in the Army but has been lost in action since January 11th. How has the last year been? It’s like the longest year of my life. In August I went to Ukraine and I saw as many people as I could. We all stayed in western Ukraine, so I didn’t go anywhere close to where the fighting is on the eastern part of Ukraine. But it still was very scary. You know, that first night in Ukraine with the air raid sirens and weird noises was just full-on panic mode.”
State Senator Tanya Vyhovsky says the past year has been hard as some of her family members remain in Kyiv.
“My grandmother has been the main point of contact for our families, just so everyone here isn’t contacting them to really try and limit the 27 phone calls that could be coming in every day. I know there are some people who have yet not heard from people they know are there. I know there are people who had been hearing and have lost contact. We’ve been really lucky in that we’re continuing to hear weekly updates as to what’s happening. And it’s a pretty wide range of course depending on whether there’s electricity, or whether there’s internet. We know that the infrastructure attacks have been huge and that has certainly has played a huge part in whether or not people are able to stay in touch.”
The Progressive/Democrat from the Chittenden Central District says the vigil is important for a number of reasons.
“This is so indicative of a larger threat on democracy and I just think it’s just critically important that we continue to stand up both for Ukrainians’ right to be a free and sovereign nation but also even larger against the threats to democracy everywhere. I think it reminds people that this is still ongoing. I think it reminds people that, you know with the really fast news cycle I think it’s really easy when things stretch on and on and on to put them in the back of our minds or to not be as aware that it continues to be ongoing. So I think that it’s just a reminder that this is continuing and that this is not going away and that we need to stand together.”
Bacevius says the vigil is planned to be a quiet gathering.
“We’ll have candles. People, please dress warm. You can bring Ukrainian flags. It will mostly be in silence, though we’re open to folks speaking. And I really encourage, not just Ukrainians, but the whole community to come and support Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
The vigil is scheduled from 5:30 until 7:30 on the Statehouse lawn in Montpelier.
