Pro-Ukrainian rally held in Hallandale Beach on the anniversary of the war with Russia

Hallandale Beach, Florida. (WSVN) – South Florida residents gathered on Hallandale Beach to show their support for Ukraine on the anniversary of the eastern European nation’s war with Russia.

Shortly before 6:40 pm on Friday, 7News cameras recorded at least 100 people near the 400th block of the Southern Federal Highway. Some were seen waving Ukrainian flags or wrapped in a flag.

“We want to end the war as soon as possible,” protester Karina Krikunenko said. “So many Ukrainians are dying, especially young Ukrainians.”

Later, hundreds of participants took to the streets and staged a picket with candles.

It has been a year of horror and grief for many Ukrainians living in South Florida as the war continues in their home country.

“My classmates, they all fight. My brother is fighting, everyone is fighting,” Krikunenko said.

Participants remembered lost lives, torn families and months of suffering as they protested against Russia’s deadly invasion.

“There are a lot of terrorist attacks in our house, and this makes me very sad,” protester Arina Yegorycheva said.

Organizer Daria Zalivnaya said the event was meant to send a strong message: they want the war to end.

“The war is not over; the war is still going on and it is escalating and more and more people are dying every day,” she said. “Unfortunately, this has already gone off the front pages of all the news, so we are here to remind people that the war is still going on. We still need your support, we still need every possible means to support our soldiers on the front lines.”

Other members of the community also showed their solidarity. Drivers honked as they passed the demonstration.

Organizers said they want the violence to stop so they can one day return home.

“I really want to go and hug my friends. For some of them, I will never get the opportunity to do this, because they died, ”Zalivadnaya said.

Asked if more rallies were planned, Zalivadnaya said she hoped this would be the last year to mark the anniversary of the war in Ukraine. They hope that next time they will come together to celebrate the end of the conflict.

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