Dozens of Ukrainians gathered in New York’s Times Square on Thursday to protest the Russian invasion.
The crowd sang hymns and chanted “stop Russian Hitler” and “Stand with Ukraine” while holding a giant national flag.
Tetyana Sirman joined the protest with her son Levy Gershanovich, who held a sign saying “Russia bombing Ukraine”.
Ms Sirman told The Independent the world needed to wake up to the threat posed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“We’re concerned not only for Ukraine, we’re concerned for all of Europe. Putin needs to be stopped right now otherwise everybody will pay the price.
“Innocent people are being bombed right now that have nothing to do with any agenda. Putin lies about the history, he twists everything to his own benefit. And this is just horrible that the world is watching and letting it unfold like that.”
Ms Sirman, who was born in Ukraine, said she believed the West would finally be compelled to take collective action against Russian aggression.
“I don’t have the recipe, but there are a lot of smart people who know what to do and they need to act right now before it’s too late. It could mean World War Three for the world, and people need to understand.”
The crowd, many draped in the blue and yellow national colours of Ukraine, chanted in English and Ukrainian, saying “Putin is a killer”.
Another protester, Vladimir Sobur said he thought he was watching a bad movie as news of the invasion broke on Wednesday night.
“I thought ‘is this really happening?’ I thought it was some kind of stupid joke. How can you stab the knife in your brother. Ukraine is in a war with Russia for no reason.”
The protesters then headed north along Times Square towards a second demonstration, where around 500 people gathered near the Russian Embassy to the United Nations between Park and Lexington Avenues on 67th St.
Emotions were high as the crowd chanted “we want peace” and “Putin “out, and sang the Ukrainian national anthem.
The protesters were prevented from entering the block between Lexington and Third Ave where the embassy sits by a large NYPD presence.
Mykola Kozak, Ukranian-born but a longtime resident of the US, told The Independent he knew of compatriots who had returned home to take up arms against the Russians.
Some had fought in the US military, and would take the combat tactics they had learnt to use against the invading Russian army.
He said the invasion felt like a case of history repeating itself, as Ukrainians had lived under Russian persecution for hundreds of years.
After the shock of Wednesday night’s invasion, the Ukrainian people were steeling themselves for a lengthy military conflict, he added.
“Everyone is ready to fight Russia. Putin wants war, we will definitely give him a war.
“I think everybody here sends their wished to the Ukrainian people back home, and to the Russian people also, who have been living under an immense amount of propaganda, poverty, and tyrannical power.”
Mr Kozak paid tribute to the thousands of protesters who had turned out in Red Square in Moscow on Thursday who were demonstrating against the war.
“They are the real heroes, because that’s scary stuff.”
Around 250 protesters then marched 20 blocks south to the United Nation Headquarters, where a speech President Joe Biden gave earlier on Thursday was played over a speaker.
“Thank you Mr President, Ukraine is not alone,” one of the organisers said over a loud-hailer.
He then announced the marchers would be walking to the Consulate-General of Russia in New York City on 91st St, reminding marchers to stick to the sidewalks.
The marchers were followed by around five NYPD vans, and officers on electric scooters provided traffic control as they headed up Park Avenue.
Earlier, in the Little Ukraine area of Manhattan’s East Village neighbourhood, Ukrainians living in New York said they wanted to see more action from the West.
Sergiy Donkin, the head of a local Ukrainian-US organisation, told The Independent the Ukrainian military could hold out against Russian forces for a time, but would need additional military and financial backing.
“Ukraine has a strong army right now, has a good president. There’s no panic, we need to stop this crazy guy, Putin. He is terrorist number one in the world,” he told The Independent on Thursday.
“I hope that the US stops this crazy guy. America, England, every normal country needs to support us.”
Mr Donkin said he hadn’t slept since the invasion began, and was in close contact with friends and family back home.
“I feel very very bad, because what can I do to help? Maybe send money. Every Ukrainian will do something. Everybody is thinking about how they can help. All of my family are living in Ukraine, my cousins, my parents.”
