琉璃神社鈥檚 diverse backgrounds came out to support Ukrainians at a peace rally held on Feb. 27 outside city hall.

The community came together to raise funds and gather supplies for Ukraine after Russia, led by president Vladimir Putin, launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, Feb.24.

鈥淲e need to speak up,鈥� said Svitlana Shkyn, a Ukrainian-Canadian and organizer of fundraising efforts. 鈥淲e need support from Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian people. Despite your cultural heritage we are all united together.鈥�

Shkyn鈥檚 brother is currently in the volunteer army in Ukraine.

鈥淲e need to stop this tyranny. We need to stop Putin and his government,鈥� Shkyn said.

On Friday, March 4, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., the will host a Ukrainian lunch fundraiser. The cafe has donated the use of their kitchen and equipment to Ukrainians preparing food for the Friday event.

They will be serving a cup of borscht, perogies and Ukrainian cabbage rolls. All proceeds from the lunch sales will be donated to the

Last Sunday鈥檚 crowd was full of Georgian supporters, who lived through a similar Russian invasion over a decade ago.

鈥淭his happened to us in 2008 and there was not enough to say, 鈥榮top鈥�. This is not about Russia, this is about Putin,鈥� said a Georgian-Canadian who wishes to remain anonymous. 鈥淗e wants the Soviet Union to be the Soviet Union, but nobody wants that.鈥�

The Georgian community said they want to stand strong for their Ukrainian neighbours after the support they received in 2008.

鈥淯krainian people were standing beside us and saying that they are our friends,鈥� said the Georgian supporter.

鈥淲e just want to say back that we love them and we will always be with them.鈥�

Members of the Taiwan cultural society were also in attendance.

Wayne Lai, the president of the society, said that Taiwan is in a similar situation to Ukraine right now. Taiwan is an independent country, bordered by a large and powerful country looking to take control of its territory.

Lai said Taiwan is standing in support of those wanting to live in a sovereign state, adding, 鈥渨e condemn violence and aggression.鈥�

鈥淭his is a war against humanity, society and democracy,鈥� said Lai.

Russian supporters were also in attendance at the peace rally, saying they love their 鈥淯krainian brothers and sisters.鈥�

鈥淚 hope that with our little voices here, we can somehow encourage support from Canada,鈥� said Vsevolod Lynov, a Ukrainian-Canadian, worried for his loved ones back home.

Support can be sent to the , organized by CNEWA Canada.

Support for the beleaguered Ukrainians can also be sent through the and Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which have established a humanitarian fund.