Ukrainian Independence Day celebrated across Tri-State Area
NEW YORK -- Ukrainian Independence Day was celebrated across the Tri-State Area on Wednesday.
In Hackensack, New Jersey, two sisters performed songs on the bandura, the national instrumental of Ukraine. One of their songs is a tribute to sons, especially those who fight for freedom.
"Let me be clear. Bergen County stands with the people of Ukraine in their fight to remain a democratic and independent nation," Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said.
Observances were held across Ukraine and in the Tri-State Area, including Central Park, where a giant Ukrainian flag was unfurled.
In Brooklyn, the corner of Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue was co-named "Ukrainian Way."
At the Ukrainian Institute of America on East 79th Street, they saluted Independence Day but were well aware of the price the homeland has paid for it.
"We all hold our breath today. You know, this week is a week where we were all... I couldn't sleep," said Kathy Nalywajko, president of the Ukrainian Institute of America.
She says Ukrainian Americans live in fear for their families back home.
"We are constantly checking in on them to make sure that they're still safe, which, look, we are grateful that they're safe, but obviously completely distraught that other people aren't," Nalywajko said.
As CBS2's Dick Brennan reports, those others included the people killed in a Russian rocket attack on a train station in the small town of Chaplyn. Five passenger rail cars were hit.
READ MORE: 22 killed in Independence Day attack in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
As air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine, marking six months of combat with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "This is our life every day. This attack is how Russia prepared for this United Nations meeting." Zelenskyy, speaking to the Security Council on Wednesday, urged more support.
Some support came Wednesday from the United States, which pledged a nearly $3 billion aid package, its largest to date.
"Ukraine has a lot of indigenous support from American people, who see this as a very clear case of people just fighting to protect themselves from this really monstrous invasion," said Adrian Karatnycky, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.
Right now, there is no end in sight to the fighting or the Ukrainian defiance. Soldiers using balloons tauntingly flew blue and yellow flags toward Russian-occupied territories.
As the battles rage on, so many here worry about what's next.
"It's not just the pins and needles, it's six months of pins and needles," said Andrij Dobriansky, spokesman for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.
Dobriansky says Ukrainian pride continues to be on full display here.
"I attended six different flag raisings across the New York metro area. The United States seems to be -- all of our elected officials, from the local to the federal level -- behind Ukraine and that is what we need to raise our spirits right now," he said.
President Joe Biden will call Zelenskyy on Thursday about his latest security package, but the Ukrainian president says he still needs billions more in high-powered weapons.