When Peter Bihun got up this morning, he was afraid to turn on the television to see what was going on.
The president of the Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society is now watching carefully, still a little hopeful he said that Ukraine will be able to resist Russia香蕉视频直播檚 invasion.
香蕉视频直播淚 received an email from my cousin this morning, and she香蕉视频直播檚 telling us to pray for Ukraine,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e quite afraid. We went from worrying, to frightening.香蕉视频直播�
Father Pavlo Myts, the Pastor of the Dorminition Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kelowna and the Holy Resurrection Church of Penticton, said people were praying until midnight.
香蕉视频直播淲e all have family in the East and West Ukraine,香蕉视频直播� said Myts. 香蕉视频直播淢y family is in Ukraine. My brother, sister, their families, my mother, my wife香蕉视频直播檚 family, other cousins, are all there.香蕉视频直播�
Of the 30 families directly involved in the cultural society, almost all of them have families that still live in Ukraine, and they aren香蕉视频直播檛 alone in the Okanagan.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 probably in the Kelowna area about 14,000 people who have Ukrainian heritage,香蕉视频直播� Bihun said.
Some of those people, like Bihun, used to travel regularly back to Ukraine to visit their family and friends.
香蕉视频直播淥ne family I was talking to yesterday, her mother is there and her close relatives, and they香蕉视频直播檝e been in contact with them and it香蕉视频直播檚 very fearful,香蕉视频直播� said Buhin.
The fear that many families feel in Canada is shared by their relatives in Ukraine, he said, but the people aren香蕉视频直播檛 going to give up or run away. 香蕉视频直播淯kraine will fight香蕉视频直播�, he said.
The current conflict didn香蕉视频直播檛 come entirely as a surprise to Buhin, nor to many of those, he knows in Ukraine. In many ways, it is a continuation of the Crimean conflict of 2014.
香蕉视频直播淭he Ukrainians have lost over 15,000 people fighting them already. Fighting a war is not something strange to the people, their young people have been going to the front now for eight years,香蕉视频直播� said Buhin.
Buhin sees what香蕉视频直播檚 happening in Russia as only a first strike from a Russian leader determined to rebuild the Soviet Union by force. It香蕉视频直播檚 something that the rest of the world will need to face down while it can before Putin香蕉视频直播檚 territorial ambitions go further, he added.
Father Myts said that his family in Ukraine have told him that there are already shortages of water and food and that they can香蕉视频直播檛 even flee their city because there isn香蕉视频直播檛 enough gas at the stations.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of the strikes, it was only about 35 kilometres from my hometown,香蕉视频直播� said Myts.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now the biggest help, from the west, will be the democratic countries getting together and really doing some economic damage to Russia, not just a few billionaires. Their billionaires know how to hide money, it needs to be a crushing financial blow to Russia.香蕉视频直播�
Despite the size of the Russian army, the extent of their bombing campaign, and the speed with which they香蕉视频直播檙e moving, Buhin still holds out hope for the Ukrainian people to endure.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like David and Goliath, and with Russia being the aggressor with a huge army, we all know what happened to Goliath and we can only hope that happens here.香蕉视频直播�
Myts is pleading for international aid and for the world to unite, as 香蕉视频直播渢hey will not stop unless the world gets together.香蕉视频直播�
A rally for Ukraine is taking place at the Kelowna City Hall on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. People of all backgrounds are invited to come out in support and bring Ukrainian flags and wear blue and yellow if they can.
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran has spoken out about Russia香蕉视频直播檚 attacks on Ukraine stating deep concern.
香蕉视频直播淲e stand with the people of Ukraine and their democratically elected government, and all the Ukrainian-Canadians who call Kelowna home,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e condemn Russia香蕉视频直播檚 unprovoked attacks. As a community and as individuals, we need to denounce this senseless violence.香蕉视频直播�
Ukraine needs our help
香蕉视频直播� Jacqueline Gelineau (@Rangers_mom)
"Write to your MLAs"
Support can be sent to the , organized by CNEWA Canada. Support for the beleaguered Ukrainians can also be sent through the and Canada-Ukraine Foundation, who have established a humanitarian fund.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
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