Ukrainians maintain rally at Colorado State Capitol as talks of invasion proceed

DENVER — It was a full of life morning on the State Capitol Saturday as Ukrainians from round Colorado united in solidarity.

“Ukrainian individuals, they like freedom. They need peace. They wish to stay their regular life,” Lileya Sobechko mentioned.

Sobechko was born in Ukraine and moved to Colorado in 2002. However her mom, sister and different household stay.

“They haven’t any place to cover. They comprehend it’s going to occur. It’s going to occur,” she mentioned.

Among the many crowd have been individuals of all ages, every with their very own story to inform, together with Ret. U.S. Col. Hlib Hayuk whose household escaped from Ukraine when he was simply 5 years outdated.

“I’ve a tough time speaking with out changing into emotional,” he mentioned.

No stranger to warfare, Hayuk says what we’re seeing now’s historical past repeating itself, which can seemingly have one other expensive and lethal final result.

“Tens of hundreds or a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals in Ukraine will die, however so will many, many Russian younger women and men,” he mentioned.

However Ukrainians usually are not alone of their quest for hope and freedom. Coloradans from international locations like Lithuania and Belarus confirmed as much as assist and stand with their neighbors.

“It’s only a matter of time. If he takes Ukraine, he’s taking the Baltics subsequent,” Arvidas Jarasius, who has household in Lithuania, mentioned.

For now, all they will do is stand by from afar and hope for one of the best.

“At all times at these important moments, Ukrainians all through their historical past come by way of,” Hayuk mentioned.

Saturday’s rally on the State Capitol was deliberate forward of Sunday’s rally in Washington D.C. the place Ukrainians from across the nation are anticipated to assemble and present their assist.