Flagler Beach, FL (March 5, 2022) – It’s Saturday.  Another beautiful day at the beach with sunny skies, a light breeze and bikers in town for the start of the annual Bike Week 2022 festivities.

But half a world away the people of Ukraine are fighting for their survival under gray skies. While they can’t be there in person, Andrew Popov and his wife Marina Onishchenko-Popov wanted to make sure the people of Ukraine knew they are not alone as they fight off Russia to save their nation.

Surrounded by dozens of Ukrainians from across Flagler County and others out to show their support, Popov’s message was clear.

“We’d like to say to all the world, stop the war. Please, help Ukraine, save Ukraine, save lives,” he said.

Born in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv, Popov moved to the United States nine years ago. He lives in Palm Coast with his family, his daughter and his wife, but his parents are still there.

“They are safe right now but who knows what can happen tomorrow,” he said.

Even from afar, Ukrainians are buoyed by the messages and spirit of the Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and those fighting.

“Yes. Every day he has speech, couple times a day, for Ukrainian people and people in the world – for our neighbors Poland, Latonia, Latvia, Estonia, Romania and all Europe Union,” he said with determination.

“He’s the first president who is so strong and we’re pretty much sure that this president will save our country,” said Onishchencko-Popov of President Zelenskyy.

Joined by their daughter Valerie Reut, who helped translate ‘inspired’ for the couple, she held back tears as she spoke.

“We are trying to raise awareness that this is a real war,” said Reut. “It’s not only affecting Ukraine, but it can potentially affect the whole world.”

“We’re with them in spirit. We’re praying for them. We’re worried about them. Our hearts are breaking for the people of our country, our families,” she said.

As part of the day’s demonstration of support, which drew honks from passing vehicles on State Roads 100 and A1A, it was also an awareness campaign for a donation drive organized by Virtual Homes Realty in Palm Coast.

Onishchencko-Popov said a tent has been set up in the parking lot of the real estate office to gather goods – food, medication and donations, to help what has rapidly become a humanitarian crisis.

“We just want to ask the whole world to stop the war in Ukraine,” Onishchencko-Popov pleaded. “It already hard for Ukrainian people, ten days. They don’t have enough food for a couple weeks. It’s cold, and it’s winter.”

“We have here Ukrainian organization and we are organizing to collect donations especially, it’s going to be financial aid to Ukraine to the people who wear what they have at home, they took their guns and what they have and took to the street to fight,” she said.

“This is the smallest that we can do for Ukraine. Just to stand here, in Flagler Beach, and support them in this hard time. I’m here. Half of my heart is here, the other half is in Ukraine.”

Like so many across the world have during the past week and a half of Putin’s war, Popov expressed what so many are thinking.

“I would like to say Ukrainian people – fight(ing), fight(ing), fight(ing). They should know all America is with Ukraine,” said Popov.