Yanina NIckless, of Ukraine, stands in front of a piece of the Berliln Wall on display in POrtland on the eve before President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

Yanina Nickless, a University of Southern Maine graduate who lives in Kennebunkport and is from the Kherson region of Ukraine, will be a virtual guest of Chellie Pingree (D) at President Biden’s State of the Union address tonight.  The address is to be delivered at 9:00 pm. Her family is fighting for their lives and for democracy amid the unprovoked Russian invasion against her home country.

Every year each mrmnrt of Congress is permitted to invite one constituent to attend the president’s address.

“My country, Ukraine, is at war now.  Every day I wake up.  I hope my parents wake up too,” Yanina, 27, said.  “I’m staying strong for them and for my country and I believe in the USA and in the world.  Thank you, Congresswoman Pingree and President Biden for not being silent and for supporting a democracy in Ukraine.  Ukrainians will never forget.”