VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A peaceful march in support of Ukraine traveled up the Virginia Beach Boardwalk on Sunday.
Valentyna Sonmezler says she organized the effort in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Sonmezler was born and raised in Ukraine and lived there until a few years ago. She now lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and daughter, but her mother, brothers and other family members are still overseas.
"The last fighting in the Mikolaiv region, it was just 20 minutes driving in the car from my mother's house," said Sonmezler.
She says her mother refuses to leave her home behind and bringing her to the U.S. doesn't seem possible at the moment, but Sonmezler isn't helpless.
Her rally for Ukraine brought well over 100 people to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, marching peacefully on the Boardwalk from Rudee Inlet to 40th Street.
"Just the whole situation about this war is absolutely terrible for both countries," said Olga Volman, who was born in Russia, but came to support raising money for relief efforts in Ukraine. "Me saying 'no to war' is also me supporting Russia, you know, in a way."
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