iN PHOTOS: Rally for Ukraine draws large crowd outside Kelowna city hall

Ukraine’s national anthem, a song that has become one of global defiance amid the Russian invasion, could be heard on the steps of Kelowna’s city hall.

Roughly 200 residents gathered in protest of the ongoing war in Ukraine today, Feb. 27. Russia invaded the country last week, causing thousands to flee. Countries across the globe, including Canada, have imposed sanctions on Russia and sent military equipment and aid to Ukraine.

“Democracy is under attack right now… this needs to be stopped,” said Peter Bihun, president of Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society, at the rally.

“They will fight to the very last person. They shut down the brewery and they’re manufacturing molotov cocktails,” he said, in reference to the Pravda brewery in Lviv that has made an appeal through social media for molotov cocktails ingredients.

“We need to support the best we can, not just now but in the time that’s coming up because there’s been a huge destruction of property and a huge number of wounded people.”

Demonstrations have been held across the country in support of Ukraine Sunday, Feb. 22. Central Okanagan residents waved Ukrainian and Canadian flags and sang the Ukrainian anthem. Some Canadian liquor stores have removed Russian products from their shelves. A Kamloops pub has changed the name of its Moscow mule to a Kyiv mule and their black and white Russians to black and white Ukrainians.

Olga Bidewell who attended the rally said her family is currently safe but in the capital of Kyiv. She was born and raised in Ukraine and has spent the last 10 years in Canada.

“(My family) right here is my support right now,” she said, blinking back tears.

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry says 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during Russia’s invasion, including 14 children. It says an additional 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded.

Russia has not released any information on casualties among its troops.

– With files from The Associated Press

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