Island Residents Rally In Support Of Ukraine

Over 60 island residents gathered at the Milestone Rotary Saturday afternoon to show their support for Ukraine amidst growing political tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. One of those residents was Yulia Polishchuk, who immigrated to the United States nearly two years ago from Kryvyi Rih, a city in Ukraine that was among the victims of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Polishchuk was with her daughter Anna Polishchuk and friend Nadia Tovstenko. Polishchuk said she didn’t want her presence at the rally to be political. Instead, she wanted it to show her appreciation for what the United States, as well as Nantucket in particular, have done for her and her home country.

"We came here about a year and a half ago with help from the Nantucket team,” Polishchuk said, referring to Nantucket Cares. “They are the people who helped me and my daughter, protected us, gave us a safe place, everything that we needed. I was a part of the Nantucket team, and I know how much they did for Ukrainians. I left Ukraine, and me and my daughter had nothing because I had to leave everything in Ukraine. Then we came to Poland, and we literally couldn't find any place to stay or anything. And I met people from Nantucket, and they were so kind to us, and they helped us out a lot. They provided whatever we needed. They provided me with an apartment. They provided us with some hope for the future, a better future.”

Nantucket Cares was originally founded in 2017 to support victims of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico and caused widespread destruction. In April of 2022, the philanthropic group traveled to Poland for three weeks and assisted approximately 4,500 Ukrainian refugees. The group raised over $325,000 in the weeks leading up to its trip.

Eventually, Polishchuk was hired by the Nantucket Cares team and helped them assist Ukrainian refugees in the area with anything they needed from train tickets, food, clothes, etc. She made a Zoom appearance in late June of 2022 during a Nantucket Cares event in the high school auditorium, when she discussed her story with those in attendance.

Island resident Tom McCann, the founder of Nantucket Cares, was also at the rally on Saturday. He said everyone in attendance wanted to make a statement that they have not forgotten about the people living through the Russia/Ukraine war.

"It's been a couple years since Nantucket Cares went over to Ukraine,” McCann said. “Ten of us went there and traveled there. It seems like Americans have a very short memory of what's going on there and still going on there. It's still raw, it's still tough. It's still extremely difficult for the people who live there. We're back here on our beautiful island, and we don't want to forget. Even though it's a long ways away, can't forget, never forget. They're still going through the same pain and turmoil they were back then. Nothing's changed."

“So we're here to show we didn't forget,” McCann continued. “I wish our government would not forget, but the people here on Nantucket and the people who are here today, we're not forgetting. We're going to continue on it and support them in every way we can.”

McCann’s reference to the government was sparked by the Trump administration’s pause on military and intelligence aid to Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions with Zelenskyy following a fiery visit to the White House. The televised dispute between President Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President J.D. Vance led to a rare minerals deal – which Trump and his team said would help repay the United States for military aid previously given and provide the United States further economic interest in the country moving forward – going unsigned.

The pause in aid, which Trump says will continue until Ukraine signs the mineral deal and begins sincere deliberations on a ceasefire, has been embraced by many conservative voters who argue it is time for the country to stop funding a “forever war.”

While there were no counter-protesters stationed at the Milestone Rotary, a few vehicles did drive by with Trump flags. One island resident responded to the rally by driving around the Milestone Rotary three times with a Trump Flag flying out of his passenger side window, yelling “America First! I stand with America!” As he drove off, he yelled “U-S-A!” as a protester yelled back “America Last you f***ing idiot!”

Despite the political tension in Washington D.C. and on the island, Polishchuk took a moment to thank everyone in the island community – regardless of political affiliation – for welcoming her with open arms, as well as for their support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

"I would like to say thank you so much," Polishchuk said. "You're amazing, and we appreciate everything and what you're doing for us. To the people out here, thank you so much. I know how you support us, and I know what you're doing for us. It's so important for all of us, and to know that we have all of you. We know how Americans support us. You are our friends, and I don't know what we would do without your help. So thank you so much.”

The rally was organized by the group Indivisible Nantucket and Nantucket Cares.