New Brunswickers Stand in Solidarity with Ukraine

Demonstrations in support of Ukraine and against Russia's invasion of the European country have been taking place around the world including here in New Brunswick. More than a hundred people gathered outside the legislature in Fredericton on Saturday evening for a "vigil for victory." The event was co-organized by Oksana Tesla from the Ukrainian Society of Fredericton and Julie Smith who spent years working in Ukraine monitoring elections beginning at the time of the Orange Revolution.

Tesla and Smith highlighted three organizations New Brunswickers can give to to help the situation in Ukraine: The Canadian Ukrainian Foundation, which is concentrating its efforts on humanitarian relief; Razom for Ukraine, a pro-democracy group that is fundraising for medical supplies; and The Kyiv Independent, an independent English language media outlet in Kyiv.

Fredericton MP Jenica Atkwin, New Brunswick Green Party leader David Coon, MLA Jeff Carr, Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers and Education Minister Dominic Cardy were in attendance at the vigil.

"This is a time for people of Ukraine to stand up and fight as they are doing. But more importantly, for democrats around the world, this is our moment to stand up as well," said Minister Cardy.

The Ukrainian flag was raised at the end of the ceremony to mark New Brunswickers standing in solidarity with Ukraine. Many attendees of the vigil have family back in Ukraine, many of whom they can no longer reach regularly. A young woman named Liudmyla told CHCO that among her family forced to shelter in place in the Ukraine right now is her 5 year old nephew.

There were also demonstrations in Saint John and Moncton over the weekend, while over in St. Stephen, Sylvia McConkey had a one-woman demonstration outside the Superstore on Saturday, proofing even one voice makes a difference.
 
On Monday, CHCO spoke with Kiev resident Yuliia Kabanets who fled her hometown for western Ukraine where she spends a large part of her days making Molotov cocktails for Ukraine's resistance. Even though she's in a slightly safer place than Kiev at the moment, the need to take shelter from threats of attack is not only real but frequent for Kabanets.

"Yesterday we had to shelter for or five times," said Kabanets over Zoom.

Besides donating to organizations providing critical supplies and services to Ukraine, Kabanets says Ukraine needs the rest of the world to continue caring about what's going on in her country.

"We will never give up," said Kabanets. "But we need you to keep talking about us."