NJ Spotlight News
Ukrainian war refugees fear fading US support
Clip: 2/24/2025 | 5m 28sVideo has Closed Captions
Three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees ‘don’t know what to expect’
Priests prayed Monday at a memorial for victims in Bucha, the site of the bloody massacre of more than 450 civilians when Russia first invaded Ukraine three years ago. As the war rages on, and the death toll continues to climb, it's "very scary" for Ukrainians in the U.S., said Oksana Condon.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
Ukrainian war refugees fear fading US support
Clip: 2/24/2025 | 5m 28sVideo has Closed Captions
Priests prayed Monday at a memorial for victims in Bucha, the site of the bloody massacre of more than 450 civilians when Russia first invaded Ukraine three years ago. As the war rages on, and the death toll continues to climb, it's "very scary" for Ukrainians in the U.S., said Oksana Condon.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipToday marks the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
With the country's military under severe pressure as President Trump pursues a new relationship with the Kremlin during a United Nations vote today, the U.S. delegation voted against a resolution condemning Russian aggression and calling for the return of Ukrainian territory.
Signifying a major reversal of U.S. policy by siding with Russia, North Korea, Iran and 14 other Moscow friendly countries in the vote.
These and other actions from the White House have the Ukrainian community on edge, especially in New Jersey's large Ukrainian population and the refugees who've resettled here.
Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan checked in with some of those residents to see how they're faring three years later.
We were all bothered by the way the.
Priests prayed today at a memorial for victims and Bush, a site of a bloody massacre of more than 450 civilians when Russia first invaded Ukraine.
Three years later, the war rages on.
The death toll here in the tens of thousands for Ukrainians in the U.S. like Oksana Condon.
It is surreal.
It is absolutely The Matrix.
That's what I the way I see this world right now.
She heads a Jersey City support group for Ukrainian war refugees, many granted temporary protected status by former President Biden, who vowed diplomatic support and arms for Ukraine.
But that ended abruptly was Donald Trump, who calls Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an unelected dictator which isn't true, and promotes a decidedly pro-Russian agenda.
It is very scary.
I don't know what to expect.
And honestly, yes, we are tired, know we are tired, but we are strong.
And I don't know, we're like in this twilight zone for three years where we have this strength.
But at the end, like you always have this like stone on your chest.
For these three years being in limbo, it's like a little bit frustrated.
And with this situation, what's happening is not too much hope.
Gillion A pair of dairy settled in Hudson County with her two daughters.
She visited family in Ukraine near Bushey, back in June.
She recalls the air raid sirens going off there at 3 a.m..
The most scary part is like you have to work or woke up and at night and then you hear all these bombs and you have to hide.
And I was just Britain.
My good God, my kids are not experienced that.
Russia launched a record 267 drones yesterday.
The devastation posted on social media by Zelensky.
He met this morning with the G7 nations, including Donald Trump on screen from the Oval Office.
President Trump, we would really like to hear from you because all our people, all of us, our families, our worry, worried.
Will there be support from America?
Will America be the leader of the free world?
It's like so our nation is traumatized.
Jersey resident Yana Baron traveled to see her family in Ukraine last month.
She said her dad still making camouflage nets for Ukrainian troops as the fighting drags on.
Let's be honest, Americans do not have their skin in the game, so it's not that personal for them.
And a lot of Americans are misinformed about what's going on there.
An aid group called Hope for Ukraine notes donations have also declined.
There's a Port Redding warehouse used to pack a container a week just with items from New Jersey.
But now it needs contributions from across the U.S. to fill one.
Americans now have war fatigue, says CEO Uri Bianco.
It's harder for us to collect as much as we used to buy in 2022 because attention has shifted from Ukraine and people are getting tired of hearing about war and destruction.
Despite the volatile politics and evolving negotiations, one thing does remain constant, and that's hope.
That's what keeps the folks here going.
We stand with Ukraine and we've been doing everything we can to help.
Mr.
Global Logistics has delivered £3 million of humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war began.
It's not easy.
There's no direct flights to Ukraine and no port to go to.
So for many of our shipments, they have to go to Poland or Germany.
And then we also has another team on that side that has to truck it over the border into Ukraine.
Packages of food, clothing and hygiene products get delivered all the way to front line towns.
As friends and family in the U.S. also.
Hold on.
I'm just praying because.
I believe.
That evil camp we.
GULLION and his younger daughter studying dance, her older daughters applying to college in the U.S.
They're hoping their protected status as refugees here will be renewed.
I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ.
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