91原创 City Mayor Val van den Broek has relatives living in Ukraine, in Odessa and near Chernobyl.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e terrified,鈥� van den Broek said, but they鈥檙e not leaving.

Mayor van den Broek, who is Ukrainian on her father鈥檚 side, has been following the Russian invasion of Ukraine with 鈥渁 heavy heart.鈥�

鈥淵ou know innocent people are dying,鈥� van den Broek told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淓vrybody is just feeling so helpless. We thought that we, as a society, had moved past this, and we haven鈥檛.鈥�

On Sunday, Feb 27, the mayor will be attending a vigil to show support for the besieged country, held outdoors at the at 5708 Glover Rd at 6 p.m.

Organizers are also planning to hold a march.

Mayor van den Broek said people need to share their feelings and show support, to 鈥減ray for Ukraine, and stand with them.鈥�

More than a million Ukrainians call Canada home, and in 2016, about four per cent of people in Canada who responded to the census identified as being of Ukrainian descent.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Thousands march in downtown Vancouver in support of Ukraine

Protests have sprung up in several cities and towns around the world since Russia launched attacks on Ukraine on Feb. 24.

In B.C., protests have been held in Kelowna, Penticton, Victoria and Vancouver, where thousands gathered on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The protest began around 1 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery before the crowd marched down Hornby Street to Jack Poole Plaza.

Marchers chanted 鈥渟tand with Ukraine鈥� and 鈥淪lava Ukraini鈥� or 鈥淕lory to Ukraine鈥�.

On Friday, Feb. 25, Russian products were pulled from B.C. government-run liquor store shelves.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth also announced $1 million would be donated to the Red Cross campaign in support of Ukrainian people.

READ MORE: B.C. pulls Russian vodka from provincial liquor store shelves

Canada has agreed to issue single-journey travel documents for Ukrainians and family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have travel documents.

Ukrainian nationals in Canada can also apply to extend their study or work permits to stay safely in the country.

Canada, the U.S. and other countries have slapped ever-tougher sanctions on Russia since the invasion began.

U.N. officials said millions could flee Ukraine.