‘It has changed everything’: Ukrainians thank Nebraska for support during the war

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The local Ukrainian community thanked the people of Nebraska on Friday night for their unending support.

As the war with Russia rages on in Ukraine, many have taken refuge in Nebraska.

Those refugees held an appreciation dinner at the House of Prayer Church in northwest Lincoln.

There was traditional Ukrainian food for everyone to share.

Mykhailo Smyshliaiev said, “You first think that you’re on your own with all of these fears and this madness going around.”

But the support from the people of Nebraska makes it easier to keep going.

“It has changed everything,” Smyshliaiev said. “We can fight. If we have this support, it’s easy; we can fight.”

Some notable lawmakers attended the dinner. Gov. Jim Pillen and Congressman Don Bacon were both in attendance.

Sen. Tom Brewer, a military veteran who has visited Ukraine nine times since the war started, said it’s encouraging to see the turnout.

“It tells them we care,” he said. “We want to see this war come to an end. We want to see Ukraine be this free nation that’s able to have the life that they had before they were invaded.”