In Seattle, near Pike Place Market, a public rally was held in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians who remain in Russian captivity. Participants gathered at Victor Steinbrueck Park holding signs and with their hands tied, symbolically recreating the reality of captivity and drawing attention to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year.
The event was organized by Divchata Seattle and Ukraine Defense Support.
“Today we held a rally in Seattle to support and honor more than 7,000 Ukrainians who are still held in Russian captivity. Some of them have been detained in inhumane conditions for over four years. Russia tortures and starves Ukrainian prisoners of war,” Ukraine Defense Support said in a statement.
The rally lasted two hours and was open to the public. Its purpose was to remind people about the thousands of Ukrainian POWs and civilians still being held captive in Russia.
According to the organizers, such actions are a way to prevent the topic of Ukrainian prisoners from disappearing from the public space and to remind once again that the fight for their release continues.
“Our main message to American society and the local community is to continue supporting Ukraine and to remember Ukrainians who are fighting right now. This is not only their struggle—it is our shared struggle for democracy. We want people to get involved: whether financially or by helping us, volunteers, sort medical supplies—any help is extremely valuable.
If Americans have the opportunity and willingness, we urge them to contact their senators and members of Congress and say that support for Ukraine matters—that it is one of their key priorities as voters.
And accordingly, to ask them to apply pressure—on the current administration or other politicians —to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary support on time and in sufficient volumes,” commented the president of Ukraine Defense Support, Anton Yefremov.
It was also noted that Roman and Valeriia Biletskiy—the parents of a defender of Azovstal—joined the event. Their son, Roman, spent 31 months in Russian captivity and was released during a prisoner exchange in December 2024.
According to the organizers, the rally also aimed to draw the attention of American society and media to the issue of Ukrainian captives. In particular, the event was covered by KING 5 News, whose team spoke via video call with Roman Biletskiy. He emphasized:
“These kinds of rallies and demonstrations are very important, because when you return from captivity and see that people fought for you, that they remember you—it lifts your spirit and helps with rehabilitation. Thank you for being there. It truly matters.”
Separately, the organizers thanked the partners who helped hold the event, including the Toloka-Ukrainian Cultural Center and the Volia Fund.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to come and support Ukraine in any weather conditions,” said one of the participants, Lina Ngo.
“This is not just an action. Not just a symbol. It is about specific lives. About those who went through hell. And about those who are still there. People stopped. They watched. They asked. Local television filmed. And in these moments it became clear – even here, thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, it is possible and necessary to tell the truth. Because captivity is not just a fact. It is daily pain. It is a violation of all human norms. This is a life that has been put on pause. We stood for them. For those who cannot stand for themselves now. And we will speak until each of them returns home,” said Alla Svistun, a participant in the action.
“When people hear about what is really happening in Ukraine, they understand that Ukraine is defending its right to exist and the rights of all Ukrainians to life,” the Ukraine Defense Support organization concluded.
Photo: Ukraine Defense Support, Lina Ngo, Alla Svystun
Author: Inna Mikhno