Local Ukrainians band together, rally for support in downtown Atlanta

ATLANTA — Even though they are over 5,000 miles from their homeland, a group of Ukrainian families from metro Atlanta felt the need to gather on the corner of one of downtown Atlanta’s busiest intersections to show their support for families and countrymen engaged in the battle for their lives.

Channel 2′s Michele Newell spent Friday night on the corner at Centennial Olympic Park with those families who felt it important that they take a stand. They chanted and protested a war that has the people they love in immediate danger.

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“They attack our people. They attack our freedom, they attack the livelihood of our families back in Ukraine,” said Vitaliy Pynzenyk

Newell spoke to Ihor Bily who has family in Ukraine. He told her his cousins were just called to battle.

“You see people singing the national anthem,” Bily said. “I just hope to get information from them and they are going to make a difference and stay alive.”

Irina Bhatia is just praying that her family can make it out ok.

“Rockets are basically falling on our homes. A house across the street from my parents house, 200 yards away, was hit with a missile this morning,” Bhatia said. “They are sleeping in bomb shelters, they are sleeping in the subways.”

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Bhatia said the rally Friday night and a second rally on Saturday are both an act of unity and a cry for more help.

“We need the community of the world to step up,” said Bhatia. “There is a giant bully in the arena. He’s beating the little guy.”

Mel Munchinsky is the Partnership Coordinator for the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church based in Atlanta. He too has family still in the war-torn country.

“I have several relatives that do live there close to Kyiv,” Munchinsky said.

Munchinsky also coordinates mission trips to Ukraine and to Russia for the church’s ministries. He said the church has missionaries in Moscow right now.

“They are trying to build new congregations,” Munchinsky said. “They are trying to build new congregations and there are protests happening in Moscow.”

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He also had a mission trip planned this summer to Ukraine. That trip is now on hold.

“So far we have determined that we best not do that because of the pandemic as well as the present war going on,” Munchinsky said.

There will be a another rally at the intersection of Marietta Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park Drive Saturday beginning at noon. You can find more information on the rally on their Facebook page.

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