HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - South Floridians came together in Hallandale Beach to show their support for Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of the start of the Eastern European country’s war with Russia.
Just before 6:40 p.m. Friday, 7News cameras captured at least 100 people near the 400 block of South Federal Highway. Some were seen waving Ukrainian flags or draped in the flag.
“We want to end the war as soon as possible,” said protester Karyna Krykunenko. “So many Ukrainians are dying, especially young Ukrainians.”
Hundreds of participants later took to the streets and held a candlelight vigil.
It has been a year of horror and heartbreak for many Ukrainians who live in South Florida, as their home country remains at war.
“My classmates, they are all fighting. My brother is fighting, everybody is fighting,” said Krykunenko.
Participants remembered the lives lost, the families torn apart and the months of suffering while protesting Russia’s deadly invasion.
“Many terrorist attacks are happening back home, and it makes me very sad,” said protester Arina Yehorycheva.
Organizer Darya Zalyvadna said the event aims to send a strong message: they want the war to end.
“The war is not over; the war is still on, and it’s escalating, and more and more people are dying daily,” she said. “Unfortunately, it’s already left the front pages of all the news, so we are here to remind the people that war is still continuing. We still need your support, we still need all possible armory to support our soldiers in the front line.”
Others in the community also showed their solidarity. Drivers honked their horns as they drove by the demonstration.
Organizers said they want the violence to end so they can one day return home.
“I really want to go and hug my friends. Some of them, I will never get the opportunity to do so because they have lost their lives,” said Zalyvadna.
When asked whether more rallies are planned, Zalyvadna said she hopes this is the last year they observe the anniversary of the war in Ukraine. They hope that the next time they come together, it will be to celebrate the end of the conflict.
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