Brovary, a Sister City of Tacoma, hit by air strike during Russian invasion of Ukraine

On Thursday, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards spoke in support of people impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the residents of Brovary, a suburb of Ukraine capital Kyiv.

Brovary became one of Tacoma’s Sister Cities in 2017. The Sister Cities Program is meant to promote peace, cultural education and economic development. Tacoma has 13 active Sister Cities, 1 emeritus and 2 under consideration.

Six people died in an airstrike in Brovary after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, BBC News reported.

“I am deeply concerned and upset by what is taking place in the country of Ukraine and my heart goes out to everyone impacted,” Mayor Victoria Woodards said in a statement. “I want community members in our sister city of Brovary to know that we, in Tacoma, are thinking of them. The impacts being felt by those in Ukraine can also be felt here at home by thousands of Ukrainian-born immigrants, U.S. military servicemembers, City employees, and their families living in Tacoma and its suburbs. As part of our family, what affects one affects us all.”

Woodards and Tacoma Fire Department Chief Tory Green visited Brovary in 2018, where they delivered an ambulance from Tacoma Fire Department to bring medical assistance to people without access to emergency services.

Stan Chain, a member of the Slavic Christian Church in Tacoma and the Tacoma Sister Cities Commission, told The News Tribune on Thursday that members of the Slavic community in Tacoma are concerned. The Slavic Christian Church serves more than 2,000 people.

Chain said the events happening in Ukraine are “really disturbing and really bad for everybody.”

Chain moved to Tacoma from Ukraine in 1998. He said he has a brother living in Ukraine who is trying to leave. Chain spoke with the mayor of Brovary, asking if there are any donations they can provide, but the mayor said they aren’t yet sure what they need.

Chain said Ukraine families know how painful war can be, and he hopes for a peaceful resolution.

“War never brings anything good,” he said.

According to the city of Tacoma website, there are thousands of Ukrainian born immigrants living in Tacoma and its suburbs.

“Brovary just like Tacoma is located near a waterway – the Dnieper River which gives economic advantages to businesses … It borders Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, similar to how Tacoma borders Seattle, a major metropolitan area,” according to the city’s website.

President Joe Biden announced in a press conference Thursday a new set of sanctions and limitations on exports to Russia.

This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 1:25 PM.