Americans have rallied together to show their support for Ukraine as the nation battles an ongoing invasion from Russia, with crowds lining the streets for a table at East Village's Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka, following the Russian invasion.
More than 100 New Yorkers joined a line wrapping around the block in a show of solidarity with Ukraine and the almost 70-year-old restaurant.
'I'm surprised by the crowds, but then again, I'm not. It's kind of like we're everybody's favorite living room and I am grateful and thankful for that,' said Jason Birchard, Veselka's owner.
'Many of our staff members are Ukrainian. Everyone is up all night, talking to family members. Some are so distraught, they can't even come to work. They are hanging by a thread, feeling so angry, upset and helpless,' added Birchard, who has been working 16 hour days since the invasion.
New Yorkers wait in a long line at a Ukrainian diner Veselka to show solidarity in the wake of Russia's invasion on February 25, 2022
Pictured: New Yorkers waiting in line for Lower East Side Ukrainian restaurant Veselka after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began last week
The mural facade outside of Veselka restaurant in the Lower East Side, where over 100 patrons could be seen lined up around the block in support of Ukrainians
A Ukrainian flag hangs outside of Veselka on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in New York
People dine inside Veselka where a Ukrainian flag hangs in the East Village, Friday, February 25, 2022, in New York on the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Jason Birchard, pictured, owner of Veselka, said he has been working 16 hour days at the restaurant since the invasion
The restaurant, which opened in 1954 and was famous for its 24-hour service prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, serves Ukrainian comfort food, ranging from pierogis to borscht.
One customer, a 29-year-old Ukrainian-born medical technician who only gave her name as Tanya, told the New York Post that Veselka is 'a very symbolic, special place.'
'My heart is always there. I try to support it as much as I can,' said Tanya who came to the restaurant wrapped in a yellow and blue Ukrainian flag.
Those colors have illuminated skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building, buildings and national monuments since Russia invaded last week.
Tanya added that her own family back in Ukraine is currently 'surrounded by lots of Russians and tanks.'
But thankfully the tanks are out of fuel and the most serious bombing has stopped for now.
'But it was pretty bad,' she said. 'My family is still hiding in basements and the Russians were shooting
