AND A LIVE LOOK AT THE STATE CAPITOL TONIGHT. THE DOME IS LIT UP IN BLUE AND YELLOW, THE COLORS OF THE UKRAINIAN FLAG, AS KCRA 3’S ANDRES VALLE SHOWS US. MANY HERE IN SACRAMENTO ARE REMEMBERING THE LIVES LOST WITH A MESSAGE OF HOPE. OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA’S CAPITOL BUILDING TUESDAY NIGHT, A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE. AND I JUST WANT TO HELP BRING AWARENESS OF WHAT’S GOING ON. AND I THINK THAT’S THE MAIN THING OUT HERE, IS TO BRING AWARENESS OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AND ALL THE DESTRUCTION, AND HOPEFULLY NEGOTIATIONS CAN BRING ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, TO STOP THAT SOON AS DOZENS GATHER ON AN ANNIVERSARY OF A WAR, MANY WANT TO END. IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THIS WORD, YOU HAVE TO LOSE SOMEBODY. AND FOR MANY UKRAINIANS LIKE OLGA, WHO NOW CALL SACRAMENTO HOME, IT TAKES A PERSONAL TOLL. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER ONE. I WANT THIS WAR TO BE ENDED AND EVERYBODY GOT HOME. ALL PRISONERS OF WAR RETURNED HOME. ALL KIDNAPED KIDS RETURNED HOME. IT’S REALLY, REALLY MY BIG, BIG DREAM. EXACTLY FOUR YEARS AGO, RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. THE WAR TESTING THE STRENGTH OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO HONOR THE LIVES LOST. CREATING A MEMORIAL FOR JUST SOME OF THE CHILDREN KILLED SO FAR. OH, MY GOD, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A POET. A LITTLE GIRL, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANCER. THEIR LIVES CUT SHORT WHILE THE PAST FOUR YEARS HAVE WEIGHED HEAVY FOR MANY CONNECTED TO UKRAINE, IT’S ALSO REMINDER THE RESILIENCE MANY HAVE SHOWN DURING THE WAR. IT’S NOT ONLY ABOUT PAIN. SO ALSO ABOUT COURAGE, RESILIENCE, BECAUSE ORDINARY UKRAINIAN PEOPLE STOOD UP AGAINST ONE OF THE LARGEST ARMY IN THE WORLD. AND BECAUSE OF THIS COURAGE, BRAVERY, ORDINARY PEOPLE, THEY JUST WANT TO BE FREE, INDEPENDENT. THROUGH SONG POSTER BOARDS AND THE POWERFUL WORDS OF SPEAKERS, UKRAINIANS ARE PROMISING THE PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMELAND ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. WE WANT OUR FRIENDS IN UKRAINE, OUR FAMILIES, TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT SITTING HERE AND WAITING FOR A MIRACLE. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN IN SACRAMENTO. IF I CAN JUST SAY UKRAINE. UKRAINE, UKRAINE SO PEOPLE DON’T FORGET ANDRES VALLE KCRA 3 NEWS, THE UKRAINIAN AMERICAN HOUSE AND THE SUNFLOWER SOCIETY ORGANIZED TONIGHT’S EVENT.
People gather in Sacramento to show solidarity with Ukraine on 4 year war anniversary
Updated: 11:08 PM PST Feb 24, 2026
Sacramento residents gathered outside California’s Capitol building Tuesday night to show solidarity with Ukraine as the war enters its fourth year, with the dome lit up in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.”I think the main thing is to bring awareness to what’s happening and all the destruction. And hopefully negotiations can bring a stop to that soon,” said Duane McMullen, an attendee.The anniversary of the war is a poignant reminder for many Ukrainians, including Olga Noshyn, who now calls Sacramento home.”If you want to understand the meaning of this war, you have to lose somebody. I don’t want to lose another one. I want this war to end. And everybody go home. All prisoners of war returned home, and all kidnapped kids returned home. That’s really, really my big, big dream,” Noshyn said.Four years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine, testing the strength of the Ukrainian people, who continue to honor the lives lost by creating memorials for some of the children killed in the conflict.”Oh, my God. He would have been a poet. A little girl. She would have been a dancer. Their lives cut short,” said Nancy Fisher, describing the memorial of the kids killed.While the past four years have been heavy for many connected to Ukraine, the anniversary also serves as a reminder of the resilience shown during the war.”It’s not only about pain. It’s also about courage and resilience, because ordinary Ukrainian people stood up against one of the largest armies in the world. And it is because of this courage, bravery, ordinary people, they just want to be free, independent,” said Vlad Skots.Through song, poster boards and powerful words, Ukrainians in Sacramento are promising that the people in their homeland are never forgotten.”We want our friends in Ukraine, all families, to know that we are not sitting here and waiting for a miracle. We are doing everything we can,” said Noshyn.”If I can just say Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine. So people don’t forget,” another attendee added.The event was organized by the Ukrainian American House and the Sunflower Society, both of which work to raise money to support refugees and send supplies to Ukraine.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento residents gathered outside California’s Capitol building Tuesday night to show solidarity with Ukraine as the war enters its fourth year, with the dome lit up in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
“I think the main thing is to bring awareness to what’s happening and all the destruction. And hopefully negotiations can bring a stop to that soon,” said Duane McMullen, an attendee.
The anniversary of the war is a poignant reminder for many Ukrainians, including Olga Noshyn, who now calls Sacramento home.
“If you want to understand the meaning of this war, you have to lose somebody. I don’t want to lose another one. I want this war to end. And everybody go home. All prisoners of war returned home, and all kidnapped kids returned home. That’s really, really my big, big dream,” Noshyn said.
Four years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine, testing the strength of the Ukrainian people, who continue to honor the lives lost by creating memorials for some of the children killed in the conflict.
“Oh, my God. He would have been a poet. A little girl. She would have been a dancer. Their lives cut short,” said Nancy Fisher, describing the memorial of the kids killed.
While the past four years have been heavy for many connected to Ukraine, the anniversary also serves as a reminder of the resilience shown during the war.
“It’s not only about pain. It’s also about courage and resilience, because ordinary Ukrainian people stood up against one of the largest armies in the world. And it is because of this courage, bravery, ordinary people, they just want to be free, independent,” said Vlad Skots.
Through song, poster boards and powerful words, Ukrainians in Sacramento are promising that the people in their homeland are never forgotten.
“We want our friends in Ukraine, all families, to know that we are not sitting here and waiting for a miracle. We are doing everything we can,” said Noshyn.
“If I can just say Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine. So people don’t forget,” another attendee added.
The event was organized by the Ukrainian American House and the Sunflower Society, both of which work to raise money to support refugees and send supplies to Ukraine.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel