Ukrainian Refugees Will Be Welcome In NY, Hochul Says

NEW YORK CITY — Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion will find a safe harbor in the Empire State, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Hochul joined a chorus of New York City leaders who condemned what she called the "unjustified violence" in Ukraine.

New York, she pointed out, is home to the largest Ukrainian population in the United States.

"Just as the Statue of Liberty stands tall in our harbor, New York stands ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees," she said in a statement. "We remain engaged with the Biden Administration and we will be prepared to accept and support those who seek shelter in our state."

More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours, tweeted Filippo Grandi, the United Nation's High Commissioner for refugees.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to attack and invade Ukraine — the largest military incursion in Europe since World War II — shocked New Yorkers, many of whom have deep ties to the nation.

Hundreds of Ukrainian-Americans, among others, protested Putin at a rally Thursday that started in Times Square. All protesters who spoke with a Patch reporter said they have family and friends ones in Ukraine.

Many told Patch their loved ones plan to flee their country.

"There's no sense of panic but people are leaving," Aleks Drukarov told Patch.

But Drukarov's words came shortly before Russian forces neared Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Officials warned Kyiv residents to stay indoors and "prepare Molotov cocktails," the New York Times reported.

The attack prompted President Joe Biden and other world leaders to unveil harsh sanctions against Russian, Putin and oligarchs.

And one New York City official publicly advocated for similar measures against Russian oligarchs in the city.

"For years Manhattan has been one of the most popular safe harbors for Russian oligarchs to park their cash, especially via ultra-high end apartments," tweeted Mark Levine, borough president of Manhattan. "It's time to start seizing their properties."

Levine didn't specify how exactly officials could seize properties without due process.

Other New York leaders joined in condemning the invasion.

"President Putin's unprovoked, unnecessary and unjustified war will inflict needless suffering on the people of Ukraine and has threatened the security of the entire world," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. "The U.S. must lead the effort to hold Russia accountable. Together with our allies, the U.S. must impose crushing sanctions on Russia and strengthen the defenses of our NATO allies."

Not all New York City politicians were as forceful.

City Council Member Kristin Richardson Jordan drew a firestorm of criticism for a series of 14 tweets that mirrored language used by Putin and by Ukraine's ousted pro-Moscow president. She later told Patch that while she stood by her comments, they were intended as a critique of imperialism.

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