Seattle Ukrainians rally to spotlight POWs, push continued support five years into war
SEATTLE — Ukrainian immigrants and their supporters gathered outside Pike Place Market, standing shoulder to shoulder with their hands tied together, symbolizing those still held captive in Russia.
The demonstration aimed to draw attention to a war now entering its fifth year — and to thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians still in captivity.
“People might think that the support for Ukraine is … down,” said Anton Yefremov with Ukraine Defense Support, a Washington-based nonprofit. “Fortunately, we are seeing the complete opposite of that.”
Yefremov said the organization has provided more than $3.5 million worth of life-saving equipment, including medical supplies, to Ukrainian troops. He said support from the Seattle community continues to grow, even years into the war.
Valeriia Biletskiy said her son Roman was held in Russian captivity for 31 months, a period marked by starvation and conditions that severely affected his health.
“It is a very scary and horrifying experience,” she said. “For 31 months we didn’t have any message, any news about our son. That was the worst experience a human can go through.”
Roman was captured during the war and later freed in a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine in December 2024, one of a series of swaps that have brought some captives home while many others remain.
“I don’t know what to say about my experience. It was very traumatic and hard for me,” Roman said.
Through a translator, Roman said demonstrations like the one in Seattle play a critical role in recovery for former prisoners.
“These rallies, demonstrations are very important because when you come back from captivity and you see that people were fighting for you, people still stand, still remember you, it boosts your morale and it helps with rehabilitation,” he said.
Now living in Odesa with family, he is undergoing treatment and slowly adjusting to life after captivity. His mother said they speak every day.
“Every day we have video calls with my son,” she said.
His father said their family continues to advocate for others still being held.
“We want to remind that there are still many people, many military service members, many civilians who remain in Russian captivity,” he said.
As fighting continues in Ukraine, organizers said global attention is increasingly divided by other conflicts, but they are urging people not to lose focus.
Yefremov said the continued support from communities like Seattle is critical and motivating.
“We aren’t planning on stopping anytime soon,” he said. “That’s only inspiring us to do more, to do better, and to help quicker.”
Ukrainian families in Seattle said they believe the world is still watching, and hope that attention continues for those still waiting to come home.