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SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds gathered at the state Capitol Saturday in a rally to stand with Ukraine.
"Believe us. Our people are being killed; kids are being killed by the aggression of Russia," Iryna Kavetska said.
Kavetska, who has lived in Salt Lake County for 13 years, pleaded for the safety of her family in Ukraine.
"Pretty much my whole family is back home. My father, my grandparents and great grandma, my cousins and uncles — everyone who I love is there," she said, adding that her family is now under curfew to try and protect their city.
"They are turning off the lights at 8 p.m. to not give any chances of our (opponents) hurting us," Kavetska said.
A group, originally from Moscow, spoke to KSL-TV during Saturday's gathering.
"The last thing we could do today was just sit home and do nothing. We realize by standing here, we may not change everything, but we want to show our support — the solidarity that we stand for Ukraine, for what is right, and what is just."
Nadia Pavlova-Caldwell is a Russian-American. She came to the rally with her husband and 4-year-old son.
"Russians want to be free from this president; no one is happy with Putin," she said. "If millions will go out to the street and tell, yell and scream … of course they can send you to the jail, but not the millions. Not enough space," she said.
Those attending the rally spoke of the apparent Russian disinformation campaign.
"It's designed to make Ukrainians look violent. It is propaganda that hides the truth," Tyler Caldwell said.
Ukrainian-Americans had a plea for American government officials.
"Our main concern is: close and protect the sky. After that, the Ukrainian army will defend themselves," Kavetska said. "Being so far away from family, this rally is how we can help to reunite together. We can reunite for freedom, for peace in the whole world."
