WITH UKRAINE
COURIER LIFE, MARCH 4-10, 2022 5
the country that became independent
from Russia upon
the fall of the Soviet Union
in the early 1990s. Hundreds
of casualties, civilian and
soldier, have been reported,
and hundreds of thousands
of people have been displaced
or left voluntarily, fl eeing to
the country’s borders with
Poland, Hungary, and other
nations.
The invasion has been
condemned internationally,
and support has been
fl owing to Ukraine in a variety
of ways. But few outside
of Ukraine feel the pain
from the invasion as deeply
as those living in Brighton
Beach, which is sometimes
called “Little Odessa” owing
to its large Ukrainian population
and location by the
beach.
“Ukraine became a symbol
of fi ghting for democracy
and freedom,” said Angela
Kravtchenko, a local activist
and Ukrainian immigrant.
“We are staying united with
all Ukrainian people. Stop
the war!”
Demonstrators cried, sang
Ukrainian songs, and prayed
for a swift and peaceful end
to the confl ict. The two sides
engaged in peace talks on
Monday, but the talks appear
to have accomplished little,
as aerial bombardments continued
after the conclusion of
talks and the Russian armed
forces continue to march on
Kyiv.