On the Anniversary of the Russian Invasion
A Candlelight Vigil

It is an honor to welcome you to this Candlelight Vigil on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

It was on February 24 that Russian troops crossed the border with the intent of going well beyond Donbas and Luhansk and taking all of Ukraine.  They attacked military and civilian targets: airports, power stations, government buildings, homes, schools and hospitals.  People were forced to flee their homes, forced to shelter in basements and subways.  From Kharkiv, thousands fled to western Ukraine, to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, France and England.  Those that remained endured the onslaught of the Russian artillery.  Government officials, first responders and the Kharkiv Red Cross stayed to provide essential services; others to provide food, medicine and shelter to those in need.  Many answered the call to defend Kharkiv.

One year ago Ukraine was plunged into darkness.

Darkness will not triumph.  The light of freedom will not be extinguished.  When it’s your turn to light your candle, you are invited to remember friends, family and colleagues in Ukraine by saying their names, to acknowledge all who are impacted by this war.

“Let our lights shine for all the world to see, 

 the brightness of the lights we hold, Ukraine’s commitment to be free

 Let our lights shine for colleagues and our friends.

 We will be with you and yours, and see this to the end.”

Please stand for the Ukrainian Anthem.

As we depart you are invited to take your candle home, light it when your family gathers for a meal, and remember our friends, family and colleagues in our Sister City, Kharkiv, and throughout Ukraine.

On the Anniversary of the Russian Invasion

It’s been a year since the buildup of the Russian troops on the Ukrainian border sent alarms off around the world.  On February 24, it will have been a year since those troops began the invasion of Ukraine.  Since then the world has witnessed Russian attacks on homes, hospitals, electrical grids, power stations and a theater sheltering women and children.

For the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership it has been a year of sadness filled with unanswered questions.  We hold close the friends we’ve made since the partnership was formed in 1989.  Some are refugees in England, Slovakia, France and Canada; some are still in Kharkiv enduring the Russian artillery attacks designed to break their spirit.  We are buoyed by the depth of their patriotism and their will to survive.  

The Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership, Cincy4Ukraine, Hope4Ukraine, USA with Ukraine and the Ukrainian National Women’s League, have raised awareness of the war and have raised funds for humanitarian relief not only in our Sister City but throughout all of Ukraine.  We are proud and humbled by the response of the Greater Cincinnati Community to help feed the refugees, shelter the homeless, provide winter clothing to those in need, and generators that will enable local governments and hospitals in Kharkiv to provide essential services.

On February 24, we mark the anniversary of the invasion and remember our friends and colleagues who have endured the unimaginable.  We will support our Sister City until the war is over and continue to support it when the rebuilding begins.  That’s what family does and what the free world must do.

Bob Herring
President, Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership