Little Ukraine in the East Village is so named because it boasts the biggest population of Ukrainian New Yorkers — all proud of their heritage, but now experiencing the heartbreak of war.
Storefronts and apartments in the district have been draping their businesses and homes with Ukrainian blue-and-gold flags as the Russian invasion intensifies. On Feb. 24, the area exuded both a sense of unity and eerie sorrow as many Ukrainian natives are consumed with anxiety over their loved ones who remain in imminent danger.
