Ukrainians in Chicago celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day, raise funds for Ukraine

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A celebration of Ukrainian independence was held Saturday on Chicago's Northwest Side.

The gathering comes at a difficult time for Ukraine, which is currently fighting back from Russia's invasion more than two years ago.

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Hundreds gathered, standing shoulder to shoulder outside the Ukrainian Cultural Center, located at 2247 W. Chicago Ave. in Ukrainian Village. They were wrapped in the colors of their country, marking 33 years of its freedom, even while their homeland remains under siege by Russia.

The many voices that sang Ukraine's national anthem before singing prayers came laced with a defiant tone.

"Ukraine will continue to be an independent nation," Ukrainian Chicago area resident Jacob Shtermberg said.

Anastasia Soroka sought refuge in the U.S. just last year, and was in attendance Saturday.

"A lot of people here, we were forced to leave our country and move here, so it's just a little bit sad," Soroka said. "It's not just support of us. It's support of democracy,"

READ MORE | Ukraine somberly marks 33 years of independence as war with Russia rages on

Saturday is the third Ukrainian Independence Day since the Russian invasion of 2022, and it comes two-fold with celebration and lingering concern for families half a world away.

"[They] have hurdles of bombs and drones every single day," Shtermberg said.

As Ukrainians near and far pause to remember their country's independence, that, in recent years, has been a literal fight to maintain.

"And, when Russia is trying to take away this independence, it is so much more important that we celebrate the fact that we still have it," Shtermberg said.

The event was hosted by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Illinois Division. It ended with a fundraiser filled with music for a cause. They raised money to send aid to their homeland through the Help Heroes of Ukraine Foundation.

Ukraine declared its independence from the former Soviet Union 33 years ago, on Aug. 24, 1991.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion on the country on Feb. 24, 2022. More than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations, which has indicated that the toll could be higher. In February, the war's second anniversary, Zelenskyy had said that 35,000 soldiers had been killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.