Olha Hrytsiuk, a Ukrainian refugee, has watched in horror as the war wages in her country.

“I know my history… But I don’t know if others know the same truth about Ukraine,” said Hrytsiuk, an artist and therapist in Pullman. “Putin is a killer.”

Hrytsiuk took part in a pro-Ukrainian rally March 2 at Cougar Plaza. The protest was organized by Palouse For Ukraine, a local Facebook group.

The rally took place a day after a clash in the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. After that meeting, the Trump Administration announced it will pause aid to Ukraine. The U.S. has provided about $65 billion in military assistance to the country since the start of the war.

President Trump has pushed a narrative of the war similar to Russia’s. Russia argues a variety of points such as that Ukraine started the war and that Ukrainians are Russian. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and Ukrainians share a distinct history and culture different from Russia’s.

Many Pullman community members came out and supported during the rally. Cars would pass and honk their horns in support. One woman complained about the lack of American comprehension of the situation in Ukraine.

“Americans are asleep, they don’t understand,” said Susan Weaver of Pullman.