Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Yoopers for Ukraine members, including Michigan Technological University students from Ukraine, hold a candlelight vigil on campus Friday, a year after Ukraine was invaded by Russia.

HOUGHTON — Local residents from Ukraine and other community members marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with vigils, discussions and reminders of the importance of Ukraine’s continued resistance.

Members of Yoopers for Ukraine held a candlelight vigil at Michigan Technological University Friday afternoon, followed by a candlelight vigil in downtown Houghton Friday night.

Earlier Friday, three Ukrainians shared their memories of the first day of the invasion during a discussion at the Michigan Tech library.

At Tech’s vigil, Ukrainian doctoral student Adelina Oronova said the event served as a reminder to students that Ukraine’s war with Russia is still going on.

“I hope it will bring Ukraine to people’s minds, and they will realize that people out there are struggling, and are fighting for freedom and democracy in the whole world,” she said.

Nadija Packauskas, a Houghton resident who formed Yoopers for Ukraine after last year’s invasion, recalled the fear after the initial invasion that Kiev would fall within days.

She was proud of the resolve shown by Ukrainians and supporters in the year since.

“We couldn’t have done this last year supporting Ukraine without the support of Houghton and Hancock … all the way to Sault Ste. Marie,” she said. “It’s been a privilege and honor to stand with Ukraine, but a privilege and honor to stand with the Upper Peninsula as well.”

Friday’s vigil was originally going to have another guest. A Ukrainian soldier who came to the U.S. to be fitted for a prosthetic had planned to come, but returned to Ukraine early because of uncertainty about weather-related delays, Packauskas said.

“He sent a message this morning saying that when they fight on the battlefield, they fight with everybody’s strength,” she said.

President Biden’s visit to Ukraine last week had been a boost both for soldiers and residents in Ukraine, Packauskas said. In a statement Friday, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said backing Ukraine also benefits the U.S. and other countries.

“If Putin were given a green light to destabilize Europe, invading and killing at will, the long-term cost to the United States in both dollars and security risks would be astronomically higher than the minuscule fraction of our GDP that we have invested in Ukraine’s defense thus far,” he said.

Oronova asked people to contact their political representatives to tell them to continue providing support for Ukraine.

“If you have your own home, and somebody invades your home, you will be protecting your property and your family,” she said. “This is what Ukraine is doing. We haven’t invaded anyone.”

Having the Copper Country and places around the world rally around Ukraine for the past year is bittersweet, Oronova and Packauskas said.

“I cannot comprehend that in the 21st century one country can just invade another independent country and it’ll be going on for one year,” she said. “We appreciate all of the support from all countries around the world, like the United States, especially for keeping up the fight, but it’s just something that I cannot understand.”

The first vigil took place on campus days after Russia entered Ukraine. Since then, Yoopers for Ukraine has held numerous events and fundraisers around the community, and still hold demonstrations at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge every Sunday.

Oronova expressed disbelief that a year after the invasion, she was still talking to the media about ongoing attacks in her homeland.

“I wish it didn’t happen, or that it would be all about victory in Ukraine by now, but it is what it is,” she said.