SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Some people in Scranton are standing with Ukraine every step of the way during the eastern European country's war with Russia.
A church and community organization gathered Sunday afternoon for a fundraising meal. It showed support for Ukraine and honored two of that country's soldiers who nearly lost their lives on the front lines.
Two Ukrainian soldiers, who stood for their country on the front lines in the war with Russia, stood to a standing ovation inside St. Vladimir Ukrainian church in Scranton.
Sunday was an emotional day for Diann Wolfe. She is a member of this church that partnered with Rotary District 74-10 International Service Committee to bring the soldiers to northeastern Pennsylvania.
This luncheon helped raise money for Ukraine and showed support for the soldiers.
"And that's what we wanted this event to be about, about supporting our fellow humans under distress and knowing that they aren't alone," said Rotary District 7410 International Service Committee member Lara Alexiou.
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"And we have to be grateful for this real hero. This real hero," St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church Father Myron Myronyuk added.
Ukrainian Soldiers Vadym Khuts and Roman Zabavin spoke to 28/22 News through translator Stanislav Demochko.
"He's grateful to United States as a country for the people of Scranton this area for organizing this event all the humanitarian aid that was sent to Ukraine and also the military aid that is helping stop this Russian horde from destroying our nation and all the free world," Vadym explained.
Vadym volunteered the first days of the war and became a soldier in March 2022.
He was wounded on the front lines in the spring of 2023 after an artillery shell exploded in front of him. He ended up losing an arm and a leg.
"He's very thankful to everyone that is contributing to every individual to every organization and it's not just personal gratitude. It's gratitude on behalf of the armed forces of Ukraine and everybody who is serving. They are very thankful to be here, today," Roman stated.
Roman was drafted into the military in February 2023 and immediately started serving in Bakhmut, one of the hot spots during that time of the war.
That summer a grenade that fell one meter from him took both his arm and leg.
"I look at these young men and I see my son because if he was there he would have to fight," said St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church member Jean Stasyszyn-Pedley.
Fighting in a war nearing its one-thousandth day.
"The most important thing America can do for Ukraine is send weapons and only defeat will stop this evil from approaching us and who has the aim of eliminating our nation and our people," Vadym said.
The rotary says it expects to surpass its goal of raising more than $50,000.
All of the proceeds will go toward a pediatric hospital in eastern Ukraine.
