A candlelight vigil is set for Tuesday night in Perry Square in honor of the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the people of Erie have shown up time and time again this is another example of how they are showing their support for the men and women hundreds of miles away.
It’s been four years since Dr. Lena Surzhko Harned’s life along with others was turned upside when Russia invaded Ukraine. She said this past year in particular has been devastating.
Dr. Surzhko Harned, an Associate Professor of Political Science and chair of the Political Science Department at Penn State Behrend explained, “This has been the bloodiest, most destructive year in the last four years for Ukraine and Ukranian civilians when it comes to attacks on civilians by the Russian Federation.”
She said while the humanitarian support from other countries hasn’t waivered, the support from other world leaders and governments has.
According to Dr. Harned, “In all four years, no international efforts have been good enough to put a stop to this brutal war. And just reflecting on the lives lost and the fate of the country that has been changed forever.”
While there’s been talks of a cease fire. Dr. Harned wants more work to be done.
“Ceasefire is not peace, ceasefire is not the end of conflict. It’s not the end of war and when it comes to finding political solution in all this, there is only one person who can end this. He is not in the White House, he is not in Kyiv. He’s in Kremlin, there’s only one person, who started it and who can end it.”
She knows peace won’t happen overnight, but hopes an end is in sight as the people of Ukraine mark another solemn anniversary.
“The fighting needs to stop and the war needs to stop and the war needs to be ended rather than a cease fire”, said Dr. Harned.