Federal Way raises Ukraine flag two years after invasion

Federal Way city leadership raised the Ukrainian flag on Feb. 23 to recognize the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the escalating tensions between the two countries.

Honorary Ukraine Consul General Valeriy Goloborodko, born in Ukraine, spoke as well as Mayor Jim Ferrell, Council President Linda Kochmar and the city’s emergency manager and retired lieutenant colonel, Kevin Pelley.

“In 2022, just two short years ago, I recommended that our dedicated city council include Rivne, Ukraine, as one of our sister cities,” Ferrell said. “Our city council members voted unanimously to make that happen and we value that partnership with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and the Ukrainian community here in Federal Way.”

Honorary Consul Goloborodko shared his appreciation for the relationship between Federal Way and Rivne, and support for Ukraine in general.

“The City of Federal Way was one of the first cities who stood up in support of Ukraine. Your police department sent surplus to Ukraine to volunteers who were going to the frontline and delivering bread and medical necessities to those who were living in those areas,” Goloborodko said.

One guest at the flag raising was Federal Way community member Yelena Mokrova. She wore blue and yellow and carried a Ukrainian flag and a hat with the country embroidered onto it.

For her, the connection to the tragedies in Ukraine are personal. In her work, she and her coworkers at a nearby tax and insurance company are often a first stop for new immigrants to Federal Way from Ukraine. Mokrova also has felt the pain of the conflict within her family.

“I came here when I was seven years old, my mom brought us here from Russia,” Mokrova said. “After thirty years of being in the United States, she decided to support Russia instead of supporting Ukraine.”

This was especially hurtful for Mokrova because her husband is from Ukraine and her daughter is half Ukrainian.

Elena Moscova listens to speakers at the raising of the Ukrainian flag at Federal Way City Hall on Friday, Feb. 23. (Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / The Mirror)

“My heart is to Ukraine and I will always fight for my family and stand up for my family,” she said, and “stand up for the Ukrainians that are coming here that are struggling and need help.”

Mokrova said the event meant a lot to her, saying it “helps me a lot, it’s my therapy actually.”

“We need to make sure that Ukrainians see that we’re here for them that there’s not just city support, there’s state support and so on so that they’re not just left feeling unwelcomed,” she said.

She encourages others to stand up also, and not to be afraid of Russia.

“Just because you’re from a country that is the attacker, the aggressor, doesn’t mean you have to support it,” Mokrova said. “We have to stand up for the country that is in pain and that is being attacked. It’s not fair that we’re just sitting here doing nothing.”

Pelley echoed this statement in his speech at the flag raising: “Your countrymen are fighting for their freedom and they represent our core American values, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, free from tyranny and oppression.”

“Thank you so much for standing strong with people of Ukraine in our fight for values for democracy, for freedom for all the people, not just people of Ukraine because we are defending civilized world together,” Goloborodko said. “We are defending civilized world against dictatorship.”