Support for Ukraine in Squirrel Hill march unites people from various countries
Anastasia Gorelova is Russian.
The Carnegie resident stood on the corner of Forbes and Murray avenues in Pittsburgh holding a sign that read, in Russian, “No To War.”
Not only was she at a vigil and peaceful protest on Thursday in Squirrel Hill supporting the people of Ukraine after the military assault on Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin — she was one of the organizers.
“We need to show we care,” Gorelova said. “I have friends from Ukraine. We can’t stay silent. We need to support our neighbors. This whole thing is surreal. It’s devastating, and it’s a senseless war.”
This is Anastasia Gorelova… she is Russian… she was one of the organizers of the Thursday vigil to support Ukraine… her sign says “No War” pic.twitter.com/5hCwT7YBut
— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) February 25, 2022
Gorelova posted about the vigil on Facebook and connected with Alesia Kaplan of Point Breeze, who is from Belarus, and Karina Shevchenko of Ross, who is from Ukraine, to organize the vigil.
More than 100 people attended.
Kaplan said she has organized such events in support of her native Belarus. She feels strongly about democracy, and that this is not about the Russian people. It’s about Ukraine.
Shevchenko said it is important to stay united as she walked up and down Forbes Avenue with the others who gathered.
“I feel better being proactive,” she said. “I will support my country no matter what. I am grateful for everyone who came out to support Ukraine.”
Three friends from McCandless — Ravan Seyfullayev, Narmin Bananli and Javad Jabbari — attended. All three are natives of Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic that borders Russia.
As they waved the flag from their country, they said it has experience similar conflicts.
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“It’s about supporting Ukraine,” Seyfullayev said. “We don’t want anything to happen to them.”
“This is against humanity,” Jabbari said. “We are here for peace.”
Anastasiya Shemet, of Ohio Township, is from Belarus. She said it’s awful that we’re talking about war in the middle of Europe in 2022.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said. “(Putin) is ruining his own country. No one in his right mind would do this. He attacked three sides (of Ukraine). Nowhere is safe.”
Throughout the day, people of Ukrainian descent could not believe what they were hearing and seeing.
Leading a chant during the vigil was Taras Filenko of Squirrel Hill. He was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and came to the U.S. on a Fulbright Fellowship in musicology. He has studied at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and taught piano at Duquesne University. He has written multiple publications on the influences between the musical cultures of Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Ukraine.
“I am so angry,” Filenko said. “I am so unhappy. I was in shock and disbelief when I heard about this. I came here to show solidarity. It is important to understand the magnitude of what can happen with this disaster.”
He said he has been in touch with family members and a nephew told him he “will fight to the end.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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