"At this time, we can not turn our backs on Ukraine," said Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti. "Ukraine needs the support of this country."

Calls like this echoed all throughout the Broome County courthouse earlier today as Together For Ukraine held a vigil to recognize the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Spanning the two years of conflict and thousands of deaths, the foundation has continued to call for an end to the war with these peaceful vigils.

"We don't want to be here," said Together For Ukraine president Anatoliy Pradun. "This is not really an anniversary. But unfortunately we have to be here, and the reason we are here is we are standing and believing in Ukraine."

Pradun wasn't the one making this proclamation. A bipartisan coalition of Broome County's elected officials joined the organizers and clergymen to decry the violence.

"The senseless bombing of schools, hospitals, apartment complexes and other nonmilitary targets is all the proof the world needs that this is nothing more than pure evil," said Johnson City Mayor Martin Meaney.

The hope remains amongst those who gathered that they won't have to do it again next year and that the mood will turn from solemn to a celebration.

"We have followers in Ukraine. We directly help organizations in Ukraine," Pradun said. "We directly send help to Ukraine. They follow us on social media. It's so amazing to connect Ukrainians with people from our town. Hopefully when the war is over, there will be a great future."