COVINGTON, Ky. — On Wednesday, a dozen Ukrainian flags were raised in the area of Sixth and Main Street—or Mainstrasse Village. The first flag was raised by city commissioner Shannon Smith, who said she has personal ties to Ukraine.

What You Need To Know

  • A dozen flags were raised in Covington on Wednesday to show support for Ukraine

  • City commissioner Shannon Smith raised the first flag

  • She says she has family ties to Ukraine

  • Smith says gestures like the flags give Ukrainians hope

“I was thinking of my stepmother watching this, and thinking of her sharing it with her friends and family in Ukraine knowing that we’re halfway across the world but we’re still here and we care about them. We want to do whatever we can to help them," Smith said.

Smith said her stepmother isn't currently in Ukraine but she is fielding those calls from loved ones overseas in the midst of the tragedy. Smith said what they're hearing is that these people talk a lot about the fear of it all.

“Everyone’s wondering when this is going to end and a lot of folks are trying to figure out what they need to do next. Do they need to figure out a way to get out of the country? Do they need to stay with family? If they need to stay with family, how do they do so safely? And they are truly trying to figure out day by day just how to survive," Smith said.

She said updates continue to come, and these people are looking for some hope. She said gestures like raising flags in support do exactly that.

“It moves them to tears to know they’re heard and their life isn’t just what’s happening in that moment, that there are people out there that know what’s going on and they care and want to help and that gives so much hope to them," Smith said.

Related Stories