Hundreds gather at Boston Common to show support for Ukraine
Born and raised in Ukraine, Khlebas moved to Boston in 2017 after being stationed in San Diego while serving in the
United States Navy.
At the Parkman Bandstand on Sunday, Khlebas said that any negotiation at the cost of Ukraine's interests is 'unacceptable.'
The rally started at the Boston Public Library at 1 p.m., and demonstrators marched to the Parkman Bandstand, carrying Ukrainian flags, symbols, and posters, Ukrainian Boston
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At 2 p.m., demonstrators along with religious and political leaders, including Representative Jake Auchincloss, gathered at Parkman Bandstand.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss spoke during a Stand With Ukraine rally.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
The rally comes after President Donald Trump falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019 and legally postponed elections in 2024 due to the current state of martial law in the country, 'a dictator without elections.'
At the Boston Common on Sunday, Max Grozovsky, a a PhD student in economics at Brown University, took the train from Providence to participate in the rally.
'We can not abandon Ukraine and surrender to Russia, the aggressor,' Grozovsky said.
Khlebas, the event organizer, said he appreciated the hundreds who came out to mark the three-year anniversary.
'We need to send a message that we can't surrender,' Khlebas said.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Rachel Umansky-Castro can be reached at
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