SALT LAKE CITY — Utah leaders marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday, reiterating the state’s commitment to supporting Ukrainians in their fight.

During an event at the Capitol, leaders accepted a flag from Ukraine’s Kharkiv Regional Council that was covered with handwritten notes in English and Ukrainian saying things like “Thank you, friends,” and “Glory to the heroes.”

“I think it is just a powerful symbol of the commitment that we have between Utah and Ukraine,” said Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, whose wife is Ukrainian and who has visited that country many times. “Utah remains committed to supporting Ukraine and standing with those that are working toward peace and working toward freedom and a more secure future.”

Gov. Spencer Cox called the four-year anniversary of the invasion a “somber day,” while noting Ukrainians’ persistent fight for the “gift of liberty.”

“Four years ago, an evil superpower tried to take that gift away from Ukrainians,” Cox said. “Everyone thought that that invasion would be over in four days, and here we are four years later because people believe in liberty.”

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, who visited the war-torn nation several years ago, recalled seeing the destruction and speaking with Ukrainians who lived through it.

“They talked about the Russians actually shooting men, women and children in the street. They went into their homes. They took kids in their homes,” he said. Adams said he saw “destruction I didn’t think I’d see in my lifetime. This is evil at its very worst and we’re going to stand for good. Utahns always stand for good against evil.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, appeared virtually from Washington, D.C. and thanked Utah leaders for their support.

“Thank you to the residents and leaders of Utah for your extraordinary solidarity and support for Ukraine,” she said. “Your generosity matters deeply to the people of Kharkiv, who endure daily Russian attacks, and to every Ukrainian. Today, as we mark the somber four-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, your backing feels especially meaningful and symbolic. Thank you for standing with us in this fight for freedom and for life itself.”

Gov. Spencer Cox, center, holds a flag from Ukraine’s Kharkiv Regional Council on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. (Photo: Tess Crowley, Deseret News)

In a later speech on the House floor, Teuscher said Ukraine’s fight underscores the freedoms often taken for granted in the U.S.

“We are always just one generation away from losing our freedoms here in the United States,” he said, paraphrasing President Ronald Reagan. “That’s why I think it’s important not only that we show recognition for Ukraine and the fight and continue to stand in solidarity with them, but recognize the great freedoms that we have here in the United States and continue to fight for those freedoms.”

Utah has frequently expressed support for Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. That same week, state leaders hosted a large rally and lit up the Capitol in Ukraine’s national colors of yellow and blue.

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'Somber day': Utah leaders still stand with Ukraine 4 years later - KSLTV.com