Members of Yoopers for Ukraine march on the Portage Lift bridge Sunday afternoon. Among the marchers was 93-year-old Lithuanian-born Vytautas Packauskas, a US Air Force Veteran. He said he has shown support for Ukraine since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON ­– A march across the Portage Lift Bridge was held by local residents and Yoopers for Ukraine to demonstrate support for Ukrainians Sunday.

The march took place on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Around 30 participants waved flags and carried signs to support Ukrainian independence, oppose Russian occupation and to plead for continued U.S. aid support in the conflict.

Yoopers for Ukraine co-founder Nadija Packauskas had begun the group when the war began in 2022, but had been involved in supporting the country since 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. The support for Ukrainians began as Blue and Yellow for Lithuania, of which Nadija and her father Vytautas are Lithuanian.

Vytautas was born in Lithuania and had survived Soviet occupation. He had joined the U.S. Airforce after liberation in Germany and his experiences gave him a drive to be vocal in supporting those resisting Russia.

When Nadija suggested that the two of them travel to Chicago to participate in support events, Vytautas had the idea of conducting such events in the U.P. Since then the over 600 members group has demonstrated over 200 events across the peninsula in the last three years, of which the 93-year-old Vytautas has participated in every march he could attend. The shared cultural and historical bonds between Ukraine and Lithuania drive the support from Nadija and Vytautas.

“As a Lithuanian, we have a very special relationship with the Ukrainians,” she said. “We at one time were one country from the Baltic to the Black Sea. They (Ukrainians) really were our brothers and sisters and when we gained independence from the Soviet Union. Ukraine was the first one to recognize Lithuania’s independence, at risk of getting in trouble for raising the Lithuanian flag.”

The most recent march began on the Houghton side of the bridge with a speech given by Nadija explaining why she believes what the group was doing was still important three years on.

“I see Republicans and Democrats and socialists and independents, and the non affiliates here, and we’re all standing here together for freedom and democracy,” she said.

After the march, the group went up to the upper level of the Downtowner where Nadija had artwork sent to her by Ukrainians.

“Yoopers for Ukraine has continued to fight for Ukraine,” Nadija said. “The Ukrainians themselves are really hopeful for this administration. They continue to want to work with our government … to stand on right side of history on this and Ukraine.”