COLUMBUS – In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gov. Mike DeWine declared Sunday a “Day of Prayer” and banned Russian vodka from state liquor stores.
UPDATE 3/1/22 8:19 a.m.: This article has been edited to include new developments.
Russian shelling pounded the central square in Ukraine’s second-largest city and other civilian targets on Tuesday and a 40-mile convoy of tanks and other vehicles threatened the capital. Meanwhile, both sides look to resume talks in the coming days aimed at stopping the fighting.
The explosions and gunfire around the Ukrainian capital besieged by the Russian forces appeared to subside overnight.
The Russian military offered to allow residents to leave Kyiv via a safe corridor Monday while it beefed up for an onslaught on the capital.
Ukraine has agreed to talks with Moscow, and its delegation was heading to the border with Belarus in the north for the meeting.
DeWine declared Sunday a statewide “Day of Prayer” and ordered the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag to fly at the Statehouse downtown and at the Governor’s Residence in Bexley to show support for the people of Ukraine and for Ohio’s Ukrainian population.
DeWine also directed the state Department of Commerce to halt the purchase and sale of all vodka made by Russian Standard, the only overseas, Russian-owned vodka distillery with vodka sold in Ohio, until further notice.
All other brands of vodka sold in Ohio, including those with Russian names, are purchased from distilleries not located in Russia, DeWine said.
Russian Standard vodka is sold under the brand names of Green Mark and Russian Standard and the Division of Liquor Control estimates that there are approximately 6,400 bottles currently for sale in 487 liquor agencies across the state, DeWine said.
The agency has directed the products from their shelves.
Bars and liquor stores across America and Canada are pulling Russian vodka off their shelves and promoting Ukrainian brands instead.
Ukrainians in Ohio and the United States are praying for friends and family, donating money and supplies, registering outrage and pleading for the world to do more as Russia launches a full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Media outlets showed a few dozen demonstrators at the Statehouse in support of Ukraine.
There’s also a sense of helplessness as war unfolds thousands of miles away.
In one Cleveland suburb, a 39-year-old who emigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago says she worries about her father in Ukraine, who took shelter in his basement as explosions rocked the area around him.
U.S. immigration lawyers say they’re hearing from desperate Ukrainians. But there’s little chance the U.S. will take them in.