when Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24th 2022 President Vladimir Putin planned to have the country under his thumb within 6 weeks two years later the war drags on Ukraine is still standing but the scars will last for Generations across New Jersey this weekend Ukrainian Americans are marking the somber anniversary of the war with vigils and Memorial services at churches others are continuing collections of clothing and medical supplies to send to the war zone with ongoing efforts to help the refugees who've resettled here senior correspondent Brenda Flanigan checked in with several of the ukrainians who fled to New Jersey at the height of the invasion to see how they're Fairing and if they believe they'll ever return home we will never give up we'll still fight no matter what decision is we'll still find the way Peter Risco prepped a Food Fest for ukrainians in Garfield as refugees marked a grim anniversary it's 2 years into their grinding War to repel Russian Invaders and the enemy's gaining momentum breaking through Ukraine's defensive lines even as $60 billion dollar in vital US military aid stalls in a bitterly divided Congress that once cheered Ukrainian President Vladimir zalinski as the war started going on deeper and uh taking longer um you know it's just the same the same routine you're waking up in the morning you check all of the news you see what happened nothing good happened he believes familiar dishes can offer much needed Comfort anesco immigrated to New Jersey 13 years ago started a restaurant but he feels hope amongst ukrainians wearing thin after 2 years uh you're starting losing energy and that's that's that's probably the biggest problem New Jersey is home to some 230,000 folks with Ukrainian roots and that Community is open opened its arms wide to the refugees they've found apartments and jobs here and they're grateful but many told us they're feeling more emotionally overwhelmed than ever in April 2022 Galina pareri expressed relief I feel secure 100% I feel secure I feel safe a couple years later the mom of tuen rolled her daughters in school they're flourishing she got a job in New York City processing foreign language documents I have a Community Ukrainian Community like we support each other but part of my heart is broken she says as the war drags on she's in therapy fighting depression grieving the life and family she left behind like U I had a beautiful family and everything was so like good for me I believe for for sure I'm like we will go back by when I don't know you stole my life you stole life every ukra ianian person Luda hovo is also struggling with darker emotions two years after she and her little daughter Nicole arrived in New Jersey Nicole's a happy kindergartner now lud's taken English classes but she's reading news stories about a war that's pushed the civilian death toll to over 10,000 it's new feelings for me it's angry it's hate I never hate people before I forgot when I cry last time because like you just shut down your emotions and you just do what you have to do because I know that people are there suffering way more y Bron's a Jersey resident but her parents still live in Ukraine she visited last November captured the devastation on her phone she says her elderly dad refuses to leave he can't fight but he's making camouflage nets for troops she calls Ukraine a shield against Russia sometimes you know I feel like like the world doesn't understand what Ukraine is doing right now for the Europe and for the entire world basically ukrainians stand up for the against the evil for the entire world unless Ukraine has United States standing behind us you know it's just we have no chance here right Yuri bko heads hope for Ukraine the Jersey non profit shipped a million dollars in supplies last year including 1,500 food kits a week to the war torn region where it also runs a temporary shelter for families with an activity center for kids but he can't Supply desperately needed ammunition for Ukrainian soldiers every day of delay decisions it's some lost lives in Ukraine you know because when you have soldiers on the front line who have no bullets to fire back and Russia is now advancing warned but as the war starts its third year and Americans feel so-called Ukraine fatigue the conflict almost becomes normal background noise I guess the scariest part is that for most ukrainians in Ukraine and outside of Ukraine the war became a regular thing right people are feel war is kind of a part of their day-to-day activities demitro toi co-founded Liberty Ukraine foundation and he's also sending back home 10 million in medical and Military supplies last year ukrainians from New Jersey will travel to Washington tomorrow to lobby for aid for now they hover between hope and despair says Refugee Daria gienko I always have hope but in all this madness that going on it's really hard but I do try my best she's cleaning houses in Jersey City to make ends meet most nights she has dreams of going home anesco understands no matter where you are if you're Ukrainian you got to fight ukrainians say they stand United here in New Jersey and all over the world determined to push back Russian Invaders and protect their people and their democracy I'm Brenda Flanagaan NJ Spotlight news