Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Protesters hold signs urging support of Ukraine, including, at right, Nazar Gora and Evgenii Sidorov. Demonstrations will continue at Tech through Friday. A walk for peace will also start at 4 p.m. Wednesday on the Houghton side of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.

HOUGHTON — Demonstrations are taking place all week in Houghton in support of Ukraine as it resists the ongoing invasion by Russia.

Tuesday, about 25 people met by the husky statue at Michigan Technological University at noon, holding signs like “Stand With Ukraine.”

Organizers of the Tech protests include husband and wife Nazar Gora and Adelina Oronova, Ukrainians and Ph.D. students in chemistry. They will continue at noon each day through Friday.

A walk for peace is also scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday starting at the Houghton side of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.

Oronova said the worldwide demonstrations against Russia’s invasion show people believe that kind of aggression is unacceptable in the 21st century.

“People are dying on both sides,” Oronova said. “It is not only military people. It is people that are civilians, women, children and it is very devastating for all of us … everything happening now throughout the world, Ukraine sees it, and they really appreciate what everyone is doing out there.”

Gora called on people to contact their representatives and demand harsher sanctions against Russian and Russian oligarchs who have enabled Putin.

“They have a huge army,” he said. “We have brave soldiers, but it’s not enough. It’s a miracle that we have stood for almost six days, but the world has to make sanctions. The whole world has to do something … Putin has to be stopped. Russian people also have to overthrow him. They have to gather together and stand for their rights as well. Right now, Ukraine stands for freedom in the world.”

Both have been communicating with loved ones. Gora’s family is from the west side of Ukraine; Oronova’s is in the east. Tuesday, the Russian army was approaching her hometown.

“They hope for the best, but it’s very scary,” she said.

Among the protesters was Evgenii Sidorov, a graduate data science student at Tech from Russia. Sidorov carried a sign saying “Stop Russia’s War In Ukraine” and “Stop Putin!”

A week ago, he couldn’t have envisioned Russia invading Ukraine. Now that it’s happening, it’s “our moral duty to stand against this atrocity,” he said.

“People are being murdered — civilians, mothers, children,” he said. “It’s breaking my heart and everyone else’s heart. We cannot stay silent about this. We have to speak up. They are in grave danger. If we don’t speak for them, who’s going to do that?”

He urged people to donate to Ukrainian groups, or ask their representatives to support increased humanitarian or military aid.

“Nobody’s sending American soldiers on Ukrainian soil, but sending weapons, guns, airplanes — it’s really important to support and help Ukraine at this time,” he said.

Connor Hall, a third-year biochemistry student, has been working with Gora, Oronova and Sidorov since last fall. While he’d like to see more done, showing up in support is what he can control.

“My heart breaks for them and their families and everyone else that’s affected by this today,” he said. “So I want to come out and show my support for them.”

Gora is pleased, and surprised, to see how people have rallied behind his country.

“I didn’t expect the whole world would be standing for Ukraine,” he said. “It’s a historical moment. I don’t know if there were any countries in history that were supported as much as Ukraine right now.”

The demonstrations at Tech will continue at noon Wednesday through Friday. A walk for peace in support of Ukrainians is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. People will meet on the Houghton side. Some flags and posters will be available. Those who make their own poster are asked to keep it non-political.

If possible, walkers should also wear a blue or yellow scarf, gloves and hat.

Gora and Oronova circulated flyers listing several ways to support Ukraine.

— The Come Back Alive NGO that helps Ukrainian soldiers: https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate.

— Ukrainian Red Cross: https://redcross.org.ua/en/donate.

— Ukrainian-American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan: https://www.uacrisisresponse.org/donate.

— Razom Emergency Response Fund: https://razomforukraine.org/donate.

— United Help Ukraine, Medical Aid and Humanitarian Relief for Front Lines: https://www.facebook.com/donate/337101825010055.

— Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine (fundraiser by Nova Ukraine): https://www.facebook.com/donate/1137971146948461.