Anxious and angry, that is how Iryna Rozdolska describes her feelings since Russia began its invasion of her native Ukraine.

Her elderly parents live in the capital of Kyiv.

“They are calling me and they are hearing bombing. They see airplanes shooting down, they saw death, like little kids die,” Rozdolska said Friday.

Rozdolska’s 84-year-old father is bedridden, so her parents cannot flee the city, even as Russian troops advance. 

What You Need To Know

  • NYC Ukrainian community, elected officials, clergy, diplomats and supporters of Ukraine gathered to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine

  • Many called for more help from western nations in Ukraine's fight against Russia

  • Demonstrations, rallies and vigils have been held all across the city to show support for Ukraine.

She said she feels helpless being so far away from her parents and her nation while they are under attack. 

“I want to do something to help them, to protect, to support them and I feel strange that I am here and they are there and I am not there to fight back,” Rozdolska said.

In hopes of finding some comfort, Rozdolska and her daughter attended a solidarity rally at the Ukrainian National Home in Manhattan’s East Village, known amongst the community as Little Ukraine.

Community and elected leaders denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions and voiced support for Ukraine. 

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said NYC should do more to go after Russian oligarchs.

“We need to be part of the sanctions regime, because this is a city that for decades has provided safe harbor for the assets of oligarchs of kleptocracy who have particularly bought ultra high end luxury apartments as a way to launder their money. We need to seize those assets, seize those properties now,” said Levine.

That message got an applause from 17-year-old Vikroiya Tychynska.

Her entire extended family is in the western part of Ukraine. 

She said the anxiety about their safety is overwhelming, and so is her anger. 

“It is disgusting what is going on, the attack on freedom, the attack on democracy. I just think this is terrible he is able to get away with this,” Tychynska said.

Many at the rally called on western nations to provide more help for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. 

They also translated the first line of the Ukrainian national anthem several times, saying, "glory and freedom have not yet died in Ukraine,” and they pray it never will.