LOCAL NEWS
Sky-high demand
Protesters call for no-fl y zone over Ukraine
BY DEAN MOSES
Clip their wings over
Ukraine!
That’s what scores
of Ukrainian New Yorkers
demanded as they assembled
outside of the United Nations
March 1, with Russia launching
rockets and dropping
bombs all over Ukraine.
Chants of “No fl y zone!”
bellowed in the frigid air on
March 1 as Ukrainian supporters
gathered in the looming
shadow of the U.N. and pleaded
for the besieged Eastern European
country to be spared
from overhead attacks. This
comes after a government building
in Kharkiv was bombarded
by a massive missile strike,
reportedly killing 10.
As the death toll rises and
the confl ict reaches new grim
milestones, the pressure from
New Yorkers to aid those facing
inconceivable horrors is
rapidly mounting.
Olaga Riabkoba understands
that horror on a personal level.
Her mother visited her here in
New York only three weeks
ago and now she is forced to
fear for her mother’s life on a
daily basis.
“It is very diffi cult because
I am not there. I had to come
here today, how can I not? It
is the least I can do,” Riabkoba
told amNewYork Metro. “We
need to shield the sky over the
Ukraine because right now there
are so many bombs and rockets
and everything just fl ying over
the sky. We need help!”
The Ukrainian government is
accusing Russia of war crimes
by targeting citizens as they continue
their push for the capital of
Kyiv. This is driving the anxiety
of families watching the confl ict
from afar to new heights.
Arthur Zgurov has been to
multiple protests every day since
the invasion on his native country
began. For him, the motivation
is clear: his home is fi ghting
for its survival.
“If you turn on TV today, you
will see all the atrocities that
Russia has brought, not only today,
but all the days of war. And
today there was a missile that hit
Kharkiv, the center of the city. A
lot of cities are just destroyed,”
Zgurov said.
While Zgurov told amNewYork
Metro that it is excruciating
to witness the war, he also believes
there is no time to sit back
and feel sorry. He must continue
to take action.
“We need countries of the
world to protect the Ukrainian
sky because otherwise the airstrikes
that are killing civilians
will continue and we need to
protect civilians. The world
stands united, but we need more
help,” Zgurov said.
For hours, the large group of
protesters chanted and, in an
emotional moment, even sang
together as they begged for aid
to end the confl ict that is killing
their loved ones.
Local pols pledge to stand by Ukrainian New Yorkers
BY DEAN MOSES
Local elected offi cials committed
to stand beside
Ukrainian New Yorkers
during an East Village conference
Feb. 25.
Anxious locals looked on
with solemn concern as Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney,
Manhattan Borough President
Mark Levine, and Councilwoman
Carlina Rivera spoke
to their constituents on the
second fl oor of the Ukrainian
East Village Restaurant located
on 140 Second Ave. The
setting was less like that of a
conference and more akin to
a war room meeting thanks
to a map of the embattled
country projected behind
the politicians.
“I am horrifi ed by the images
that we just saw and that
we see in our homes on television,”
Congresswoman Maloney
began. “I, like all of you,
prayed and hoped for diplomacy.
I prayed for peace, but
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney joined Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and
Councilwoman Carlina Rivera to discuss the dire situation in Ukraine.
Putin disregarded every attempt
to avoid confl ict. Often through
the bloodiest, most destructive
course of action now, or
in Europe, by air, land and sea
endangering the lives of innocent
civilians, disregarding international
law and creating a
humanitarian crisis in Europe.
He bears full responsibility for
the bloody consequences we
are witnessing. He fi red the
fi rst shot. I wish I could provide
words of comfort but there is no
comfort in war.”
Maloney acknowledged that
the coming days and weeks will
be diffi cult to bear, but also
Protesters gathered outside of the United Nations calling
for a “No fl y zone” over the Ukraine on March 1.
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
promised that Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s actions
will be met with the most severe
sanctions in history as the confl
ict progresses.
Standing between the American
and Ukrainian fl ags, the
electeds also touched upon the
ripple effects this calamity has
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
on New Yorkers, especially those
residing within the East Village’s
Little Ukraine.
“This is a crisis for New York
City. We understand that every
single member of this community
has family and friends and
Ukraine that you are experiencing
sleepless nights, sick with
worry. Worried about the status
of your loved ones. We’re feeling
your pain as well. And we are
here to support you at this moment.
We are here to demand
that the humanitarian resources
that you are gathering can make
safe passage to the country,”
Manhattan Borough President
Mark Levine said.
Levine also declared that he
urges New York City and the
rest of the country to welcome
asylum seekers from Ukraine.
As the confl ict continues to
grow more dire and elected
offi cials decry the actions of
the Russian military, the rest
of the city can do little more
than look on and hope for a
peaceful outcome.
8 March 3, 2022 Schneps Media