Local Ukrainian community watches, waits as Russia tensions rise

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This article was published 21/02/2022 (941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Ukrainian community in Manitoba has grown even more concerned over Russia’s escalating rhetoric and military actions against its neighbour, calling for swift action from the West.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, shortly after Russia’s parliament recognized Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region as independent “republics” — the latest in a series of escalations of the conflict between the two states.

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said, via Twitter, Canada will move to impose economic sanctions on Russia.

President Joe Biden also announced the U.S. would order heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs, declaring Moscow had flagrantly violated international law. The 27 European Union members unanimously agreed Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions.

Yulia Zmerzla is the executive director of the Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre on Alexander Avenue. She, too, is worried over Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

“It makes me, my family in Ukraine, plus other Ukrainians in Canada feel just terrible and we feel unsecure,” Zmerzla said. “I check the news every 10 minutes and there is no good news.”

She said she was glad to hear of increased sanctions placed against Russia, adding the eastern European nation also needs weapons for its defence.

Meantime, Zmerzla said, all Ukrainian-Canadians can do is raise funds and awareness, and continue to meet in churches and online to discuss the worsening situation.

Dmytro Malyk, second vice-president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba chapter, said he was appalled by an hour-long, televised speech Putin gave Monday.

“I think for many Ukrainians, in Ukraine and Ukrainian-Canadians, that was a major wake up call — Mr. Putin spent one hour trying to justify his plan and invasion of Ukraine’s territories by saying and persuading that Ukraine should not exist,” said Malyk, who immigrated to Canada in 2014.

“That was very concerning, and that’s an indication that Putin and Russia will not stop just with the recognition of the so-called states (in the Donbas).”

Malyk said he believes a full-scale invasion may occur. “That will mean a loss of life for Ukrainians.”

Without significant economic sanctions to “hurt Russia’s economy on Day 1” and weapons from the West, Ukraine may falter, he said.

“Ukraine will fight Russia regardless of whether the western governments are going to help or not. However, if Ukraine is left alone again without strong back up, without strong help, Ukraine will not win this.”

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca