'Condemn Deplorable Invasion Of Ukraine': Strongsville Politician

STRONGSVILLE, OH — A Strongsville politician is co-sponsoring a state resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

State Rep. Tom Patton, a Republican, joined two of his Republican colleagues in sponsoring a resolution lambasting Russia for its attack of a sovereign neighbor. The Buckeye State is home to approximately 42,000 people of Ukrainian descent.

“Ohio, the Cleveland area in particular, has long been home to those of Ukrainian decent and I stand with them in condemning the Russian Federation's deplorable and paining invasion of Ukraine,” Patton said in a statement. “This is a direct attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine and we must stand with our brothers and sisters or democracy during these trying times.”

Over the past two weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine and other Ohio officials have taken several steps to support Ukraine and distance the state from Russia. Recently, the state ordered the Bureau of Workers Compensation to divest all of its Russian assets in its investment portfolio, barred the sale of Russian-made vodka, and prohibited state agencies from contracting with Russia or Russian firms.

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last week and has bombarded cities repeatedly in recent days. In just seven days of fighting, more than 2% of Ukraine's population has been forced out of the country, according to the tally the U.N. refugee agency released to The Associated Press. The mass evacuation could be seen in Kharkiv, a city of about 1.4 million people and Ukraine's second-largest. Residents desperate to escape falling shells and bombs crowded the city's train station and pressed onto trains, not always knowing where they were headed.