VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – Saturday, February 24 marks two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Anna Makhorkina, Ph.D. spoke to Digital Host Sarah Goode in a Digital Desk livestream about the impact on the local Ukrainian-American community and upcoming events. Watch the conversation in the video player on this page.
Makhorkina’s parents live in Ukraine. She remembers the moment two years ago trying to reach them on the phone.
“I remember I first started calling them around 11 p.m. February 23 here and February 24 there,” Makhorkina said. “I couldn’t reach them for many, many hours. That was terrifying”.
Days before the Russian invasion, the Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Association was in the midst of planning a rally for Ukraine.
“Leading up to the full-scale invasion on February 24, our Ukrainian-American community here in Hampton Roads has already started to plan events, awareness and educational events to bring attention to what was happening on the Russia-Ukraine border,” Makhorkina said.
Days later, the rally took place in Norfolk. Makhorkina felt the community support.
“That rally, we had so many people showing up on Friday,” Makhorkina said.
Where Makhorkina’s parents live in western Ukraine, she once felt was safe during the conflict, but that has changed.
“And, of course, overtime, over the two years, nowhere is safe,” Makhorkina said.
Locally, Makhorkina says the Ukrainian community support never goes away.
“The support in the American-Ukrainian community is non-waning because we literally wake up with news from Ukraine and go to bed with news from Ukraine,” Makhorkina said.
She says that support continues from friends, neighbors and community members.
“The support of everyone in our communities in Hampton Roads has been strong,” Makhorkina said.
While there is strong support, she has heard people ask if the war is still going on.
“It kind of makes you realize maybe we have to do a better job,” Makhorkina said. “Maybe we have to talk louder about it or promoting our events.”
The Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Association does events all the time, from cultural workshops to business networking events focused on congressional advocacy.
The organization had the 2 Years of War – Candlelit Vigil. It took place on Friday, Feb. 23 at the King Neptune Statue on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
The Association has other events scheduled to support the community locally. Take a look at their Facebook page to find out more.
