BUFFALO, N.Y. — As Ukrainians in Buffalo are asking for assistance, local leaders gathered Saturday morning at the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center to support their neighbors in the Ukrainian community.

"[We are here] to stand in solidarity with the community and to be here to be of any support that we can in this attack on Ukraine," Brown said.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz described Russian President Vladimir Putin's action against Ukraine as a "horrible, unjustified and unprovoked war," remarking that he stands with the Ukrainian democracy.

"I am hopeful that we can get a peaceful resolution and no matter what, we stand with our Ukrainian democratic friends to say that this needs to stop, this needs to end," Poloncarz said. "Ukrainians democracy will always stand with democracy."

After Putin ordered a "special military operation" on its neighbor earlier this week, Ukraine’s health minister said Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed, with more than 1,000 other individuals having been wounded.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that landmarks across the state will be lit blue and yellow Friday through Sunday in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.