SCRANTON, Pa. — Part of Cedar Avenue came to a standstill Sunday afternoon as Scranton welcomed a very special international visitor.
A small group of supporters gathered around the roadblocks to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Electric City.
Pres. Zelenskyy came here to visit the Scranton Army Ammunition plant, the factory that is producing some of the country's most vitally needed munitions for its war with Russia.
"I wanted to be here to show him Scranton supports him, America supports him, and I'm just happy he's here," said Olga Trushina, Clarks Green.
"Well I've seen him visit other countries or Washington. I never thought he'd be here in Scranton," said Mike Barlotta, Scranton.
The ammunition plant in Scranton is one of the few in the country to manufacture 155-millimeter artillery shells, which Ukraine uses in its Howitzer weapons that help repel Russian ground forces.
"I support Ukraine. I support America against all these other terrorist nations who want to destroy us," said Trushina.
"I'm just so surprised that he's here that he's able to be here. I think he's a hero. I think all the Ukrainian people are heroes now, standing up for democracy," said Leshya Gibb, Sciota.
Pres. Zelenskyy's visit to Scranton is just one stop on a busy tour of the United States this week.
He will also be in Washington to meet with President Biden, and he will address the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Newswatch 16 got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant back in April of 2023. Check it out on WNEP's YouTube.