Since Russia invaded Ukraine late last month, a number of international civic organizations based in Chicago, including some from Lithuania, Poland and Israel have claimed solidarity with Ukraine.
International and local leaders used a celebration of Polish-born American Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski to reaffirm Poland’s longtime relationship with neighboring Ukraine just as hundreds of thousand of refugees have fled across the border of the countries during the Russian invasion.
The neighboring nations have become allies in the years since Ukraine broke from the Soviet Union, but the relationship between the two countries have their roots in the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth starting in the 14th Century. Marek Magierowski, ambassador of Poland to the U.S., speaks, March 7, 2022, during a ceremony to mark Casimir Pulaski Day at the Polish Museum of America.
“It’s important that we not forget our Ukrainian brothers and sister who are literally in the fight of their lives every moment of every day,” the mayor said. “We’ve been watching for almost two weeks in horror at what the murderous regime of Vladimir Putin is doing to a peaceful freedom loving people in Ukraine.”
The Academy of Music of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra and other performers sing together, March 7, 2022, in front of a painting of Casimir Pulaski at the Battle of Savannah during a ceremony to mark Casimir Pulaski Day at the Polish Museum of America.