PARMA, Ohio — Saturday marks a somber anniversary: two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
"I think we were all in shock," Dr. Taras Mahlay said. "We thought after they became an independent country this would never happen."
Mahlay is the president of the Cleveland Maidan Association, a charitable organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The organization has delivered more than 155 tons of medical and other humanitarian aid to Ukraine, along with over $475,000 to nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations doing work on the ground, with plans in the works for new programs, as well.
"Were going to be setting up 32 bases of training throughout Ukraine and we plan to train, this year, 27,000 medics," Mahlay said.
Inna Kolesnik is a Ukrainian refugee now living in Northeast Ohio. She's still learning English, so Mahlay helped share her remarkable story with us.
"It's difficult to reflect, think about the events," Kolesnik said, with Mahlay translating.
Just days after the war began, Kolesnik gave birth to her youngest son in a hospital with sand bags piled up in the windows for protection. Hours after he was born, they were rushed into bomb shelters.
It's emotional for her to recall the war's anniversary as she also prepares to celebrate her son's second birthday. Now, living in a foreign land that she immigrated to — her home country war-torn — she explained how grateful she is for this opportunity and all the help she has received from the Greater Cleveland community.
During her free time, she volunteers at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, helping in the kitchen during Friday's fish fry. Further south at Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, 3News spoke to Nadia, who is also a Ukrainian refugee.
Her hometown was bombed on Friday.
"Their homeland is devastated right, and its continuing to be devastated," Father Bob Stec shared on Nadia's behalf.
As the war wages on, many say their hearts and minds are still in Ukraine.
"She would never wish anything like this to any other country," Mahlay said for Kolesnik.
There will be a vigil Saturday at 6 p.m. at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland to pray for peace in Ukraine to mark the two year anniversary of the war.