In Portland, Ukrainians protest against Russian invasion and complacency

Yulia Brockdorf stood next to a table displaying stuffed animals next to missile fragments. She called it the “Impact Booth,” a sobering reminder of the everyday reality for many living in Ukraine.

Brockdorf is the president of DAWN, a nonprofit organization that delivers medical supplies to her home country of Ukraine. In addition to distributing aid, she also works to keep the plight of Ukraine front of mind for those living in the U.S.

“We need to keep attention on Ukraine in every sphere of our life,” Brockdorf said. “It’s also essential that we educate the public and do not become complacent ourselves.”

Ukrainians in Oregon gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland on Sunday to recognize the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

Organizers called on the federal government to increase its support of Ukraine’s fight to maintain its independence, both in foreign aid and weaponry. But there were also calls for those in attendance to continue advocating and not forget the ongoing effects of the war.

“It has changed in a lot of different ways,” said Valentina Pishchanskaya-Cayanan, vice president of DAWN. “We are fighting a lot of propaganda, but as you can see, people are gathering, and we’re still seeing a lot of support.”

Less than 100 people gathered in the square, as rain drizzled around them. They listened to emotional Ukrainian music and speeches reflecting on the struggles many still face.

Kendra Hoovestol of Seaside, Oregon, has volunteered with DAWN for the past four years. While many still support the cause, attendance at rallies has dipped considerably, she said

“That is just very sad to see, because this is a much lower number of people present than in the beginning of the war,” Hoovestol said.

With the war entering its fourth year, it’s difficult to know where support for Ukraine among Americans stands. An April 2025 poll by the Pew Research Center showed a widening gap between Democrats and Republicans as to whether the U.S. has a responsibility to help Ukraine.

Hanna Bilobrova, a filmmaker who has produced documentaries about the war in her home country, stood next to a huge list of names of those killed during the war. She said she’s noticed less and less media coverage of what’s happening in Ukraine. Now living in Portland, she said some Americans have misconceptions about the war itself.

“Americans would ask me, ‘Oh, is it still happening? Are people still dying?” said Bilobrova, whose husband was killed by Russian forces in 2022. “They have no idea.”

While the crowd had diminished compared to previous demonstrations, there were moments of unity. On the other side of the square, Iranian Americans held their own protest against the Islamic Republic’s brutal crackdown on protesters in recent weeks, which has left tens of thousands dead.

As Ukrainians listened to the singing of their national anthem, Iranians walked over and joined the group. They applauded the song and handed out roses.

“It was amazing,” said Bahar Bahboodi, an organizer of the Iranian protest. “They were so happy to hear from us.

“We’re all asking for the same thing, for both of our countries.”