Plymouth Newspaper Keeps Russian-Speaking Immigrants Informed on Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been top of mind for local residents who have loved ones in that part of the world. Friday, Feb. 24, marked the one-year anniversary of the war.

A newspaper in Plymouth started by a Russian immigrant continues to cover the conflict. The paper covers the ongoing crisis in the Russian language, which is helpful to the area’s immigrants from eastern Europe.

“So we try to give information – actual,” said Leo Grichener, publisher of Russian-Speaking Media of Minnesota. “We don’t have to be something like only for Ukraine or only for Russia, we give facts.

Grichener is against the war in Ukraine, but he tries to provide impartial coverage of the conflict so that the 56,000 immigrants from the region who now reside in the Twin Cities can stay informed of what’s happening.

The newspaper does, however, have a place where readers can write in and provide their opinions of the war.

Ultimately, Grichener is hopeful for a peaceful end to the conflict.

“I don’t have crystal ball, but I want to tell you is that any war could… end,” he said. “And the end of this war would be only, my thoughts are, peaceful talks around the table. Otherwise, it will be global catastrophe.”

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the war, the Lowry Bridge in Minneapolis will be lit in gold and blue throughout the weekend.

The Lowry Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis lit in gold and blue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

Grichener will join others at the bridge on Friday night at 7 p.m. for a candlelight vigil to honor the lives lost and stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Grichener says an estimated 300 Ukranian families have settled in Minnesota since the start of the war. He urges people to donate to organizations that provide aid to these refugees.

Related: Russian Newspaper Publisher in Plymouth Shares Perspective on Ukraine

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