NJ Ukrainian community rallies for a 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine

FREEHOLD – Yevgen Kashchenko of New Brunswick said his sister lives in Kyiv, Ukraine. On Friday, a missile hit a house two blocks from her.

His father is in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Russian tanks had entered the city Saturday.

“The fights are going as we speak,” Kashchenko said. “When Putin says that they do not attack civilians, that’s not true. They attack them throughout the whole country and people die.”

Kashchenko was one of about 80 people protesting against the war in Ukraine, who gathered in front of the office of Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., Saturday afternoon.

They collected signatures for a letter titled “Help our People against Putin’s Aggression” and called for a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine.

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It reads in part: “We, Americans of Ukrainian descent, are losing our family members in Ukraine whose homes and livelihoods were violently attacked by Russian troops.”

When Smith came outside to address the crowd, Kashchenko asked him, “What can you personally do not to block this fight?”

Smith said, “I think we need to do far more than the sanctions announced by the administration. Complete and total ban on the import of Russian oil, a signaling out of Putin as a war criminal, and to demand that the Security Council in the United Nations makes a referral to the (International Criminal Court) and indict him.”

The letter advocates for a "no-fly zone," which was ruled out by NATO Friday.

Maryna Vlasiuk of Manalapan organized the event. She said she was living in Hostomel, Ukraine, last year.

When she found out the invasion was happening, she called her friends still living there.

She said a friend told her, “We have a war right now.”

She said the symbolic gestures of support are not working, “Ukraine needs real things.”

She said she believes the Ukrainian people can fight the Russian soldiers, but the country needs a no-fly zone and help with air cover.

“It’s very important for us. (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy asked about (a no-fly zone) from NATO,” Vlasiuk said. “Right now, so many people from different places, Poland, Belarusian, Russian people, from New Jersey, from different states, they’re supporting us. No one wants to have war.”

Smith said sky cover is “something that has already been taken off the table by the president in terms of a no-fly zone. It would mean direct combat with the MiGs being flown by Russians.”

He explained that having a no-fly zone would mean having troops enforcing it, something President Joe Biden had ruled out.

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“Nobody wants Americans fighting there or anywhere else frankly,” Smith said, but “just telling Putin that so matter-of-factly – taking all options off the table – took away any sense of deterrence you might get.”

Smith said that he is working on a bill with other members of Congress to increase military aid to Ukraine. He said he also believes the U.S. should ostracize countries that have decided to continue doing business with Russia.

Alexandra Altshuller of Marlboro said she has family in Ukraine.

“I’m terrified and I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’m more than worried,” she said. “These are mostly civilians, these are friendly people, these are peaceful people, this is an aspiring democracy … It is a democracy that people there are still fighting more, but they are outgunned and outnumbered … I believe it is up to the world to help.”

Lana Romanenko of Hillsborough implored the US and NATO to “please help us to cover the skies, we need air forces. Everything on the ground, we will do by ourselves.”

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She said her parents and in-laws are in Ukraine.

“I cannot sleep for three days in a row,” she said. “This must be stopped. We’re asking whoever we have to ask because we’re desperate. We don’t know what to do.”

Throughout the rally, people shouted in Ukrainian "Glory to Ukraine" and others responded "Glory to our heroes."

“You have power to go to your representatives and do what we are doing right now,” Kashchenko said, imploring other Americans. “Ask for their support of Ukraine.”

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Protesters against Ukraine crisis rally near Rep. Chris Smith's office