‘Fear and uncertainty of the future’: Vancouver Ukrainians angry, worried amid escalating Russia conflict

As Rev. Mykhailo Ozorovych watched the United Nations General Assembly on television Wednesday, his young son asked him why they weren’t watching their usual morning cartoons.

Ukraine had just declared a nationwide state of emergency after Russian President Vladimir Putin received authorization to use military force outside his country. The West responded with sanctions.

“I had to explain to my five-year-old what’s happening and why aren’t we watching cartoons,” he said. “And it’s very hard to explain to him what invasion is, what annexation is, what occupation is, and what bad people are. And he’s all positive and saying ‘well there’s those Cossacks in Ukraine. They will defend the nation.’ He doesn’t still have the notion of soldiers and modern warfare.”

A priest with the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster, Ozorovych came to Canada a decade ago, but his parents and many friends still live back in his homeland.

He’s among many Canadian-Ukrainians fearing for the fate of their home country and their loved ones stuck on the front lines. He says news from Ukraine has dominated his days and the lives of his congregation.

“You go to bed reading the latest news and you sleep not well because you think of what’s happening and will my father go? He used to be in the army and a police officer so he’s right up there. He would be one of the first ones who would be called and deciding and desiring to go. So will a text come (from him) that says ‘pray for me even more’?”

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On Tuesday, Canada announced sanctions on Russia in response to Putin’s deployment of forces into eastern Ukraine.

Mir Hucalak, Honorary Consul of Ukraine for B.C., says his wife and parents are close to the border, and he, like many others, has been waking up from nightmares since the threat began.

“People that come to see me are worried, extremely worried. They know that Ukraine cannot properly look after itself as far as a militarily against Russia,” he said, adding he has received many calls from Canadians worried about relatives abroad.

Hucalak says more people are able to share their perspectives and fears on an international platform.

“The world is a small place now, because of social media and so on. We can get the Ukrainian broadcasts. The Government of Canada has rallied to Ukraine support quite a bit. But, we are just sitting here trying to determine what to do.”

Late Monday, Putin signed a decree recognizing two regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities and ordered troops into these regions for “peacekeeping” missions.

Russian troops launched their anticipated attack Thursday, with big explosions heard before dawn in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as well as many other cities.

In 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula.

“We talk about COVID-19 fatigue. Imagine eight years of war and invasion threat and soldiers dying every day. Imagine fatigue from that and now when you hope for relief from that, it comes even further,” Ozorovych said prior to the invasion of Ukraine Thursday. “People are drained emotionally, but at the same time, maybe this is the last fight. So, there’s energy from my classmates and from friends. Childhood friends who before were not involved are now saying, ‘I think now is the time that I go and put my life if in defense of my country and my people.'”

For much of the Ukrainian diaspora, there is a sense of peace in being farther from the crisis zone. However, Ozorovych says some of the men among his congregation have talked about going back to Ukraine to defend their homeland. He says the decision can’t be taken lightly as they would be leaving their families in Canada.

He says many Ukrainians feel betrayed and abandoned by the international community, as he believes not enough has been done to prevent the Russian invasion and supply the smaller country with resources to defend itself.

“I think there’s a good amount of anger at the current world system, international law, and how we Ukrainians feel betrayed by that world. You feel anger, like couldn’t it be more productive? People in Ukraine are willing to sacrifice, people are fed up.”

The consulate has put together two car rallies to raise awareness for what’s happening in Ukraine. The first took place at Vancouver City Hall at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and another is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.