YORKTON - A rally in support of Ukraine was held in February at City Centre Park in Yorkton.
The turnout was a good one in the eyes of organizer Larissa Vancaeseele Chair of the Yorkton branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
“I’m very encouraged by the turnout we had today,” she said, estimating the crowd at more than 100, adding those showing support for Ukraine ranged from the young to the elderly.
Vancaeseele said while many in the crowd had direct family ties to Ukraine at some point, others were just people in the community showing support for a country facing invasion by Russia military forces.
The showing of flags and signs supporting the people of Ukraine was a symbol to the people facing Russian guns.
Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley said support for the rally was a good sign.
“My heart goes out to them,” he said of those in Ukraine.
At the same time Hippsley, said invasion behind the rally it “is absolutely horrific’ especially when the Russian of Ukraine might actually grow into what could be “World War III.”
The situation in Ukraine is certainly unsettling, as Oksana Hamm read off a series of excerpts of the war’s early days.
“I’m very emotional (with) what’s happening in Ukraine,” she said, as she read that 198 civilians, including children had already been killed, with more than 1,000 wounded.
Hamm said many are “hiding in basements with fear for their lives.”
Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit said the support shown for Ukraine was “heartwarming,” but that was not surprising given how many people in the city and area trace connections to Ukraine.
Ottenbreit said he himself married into a Ukrainian family, and through his involvement as Ukraine Relations Minister for seven years, got to know officials from Ukraine.
Through that position Ottenbreit said he became more aware of the history of Ukraine “and more recent happenings.”
In that regard Ottenbreit noted the Russian takeover in Crimea, “where people were dying every day,” a situation where there were warnings of more interference by Russia likely to happen. “. . . It’s come to fruition now.”
Ottenbreit said it is unfortunate more world leaders had not paid attention to what the Crimea invasion was a prelude to, suggesting it was an unheard wake-up call.
Vancaeseele acknowledged that she feels the rest of the world must do more to support Ukraine.
“I do not think we are doing enough,” she said.
At present the reaction by those opposing the invasion outside Ukraine appears focused on sanctions, for example Canada suspending export permits to Russia, but Vancaeseele said that will not be enough.
“Russia is not going to back down to sanctions,” she said.
Asked if that means troops must be sent to Ukraine, Vancaeseele said she wasn’t sure she was ready to suggest that, then added “I fear that other countries will need to support Ukraine (with troops).”
At this point Ottenbreit said the Canadian reaction has done about all that can be expected at this point.
“At this point there’s not a whole lot more to expect,” he said.
One of the moves by the Canadian government has been to fast track immigration from Ukraine.
Ottenbreit said his government is already discussing how to help that process, noting Saskatchewan has long been a destination for immigrants from Ukraine.
Hippsley said thousands from Ukraine immigrated to the local area from the 1890s through to the 1920s, and they will welcome more now.
“As Canadians it’s what we do,” he said.
The rally Sunday was the only activity scheduled locally for now, said Vancaeseele, adding their national body of the UCC is sending out updates on the situation in Ukraine regularly, and things are changing hourly.
The story was an ongoing one in the city as well.
On a Monday morning in late February, Al Greschuk, owner of Alexander’s Men’s Wear in Yorkton, was on the sidewalk in front of his business distributing Ukrainian flags to vehicles stopped on the street.
“I was putting out flags in the planters and the cars were stopping at the red lights, rolling their windows down -- and they wanted flags,” said Greschuk, adding, “we must have distributed about twenty flags.”
Greschuk said that he has family in Ukraine and they are his motivation for showing support.
“I have many cousins there and they’re all under stress -- trying to escape from the bloodshed,” adding, “the people are supporting Ukraine here and around the world.”
And then in March a Yorkton man returning home after evacuating from Ukraine was front page.
Around 50 people gathered at a local restaurant on Monday night to welcome 20-year-old Nikita Sereda back to the city.
Sereda had been studying theology to become a Ukrainian Orthodox priest in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv and attended class up until Feb. 24 when the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced.
Sereda said he awoke in the early morning hours to the sounds of explosions.
"I woke up to it at 5 a.m.," said Sereda, adding, "I didn't think of what was happening outside -- as soon as I turned on the news I learned that explosions were being heard in my area."
Sereda said his fight or flight instincts soon kicked in.
"It was kind of scary -- what to do, where to go in that situation."
Sereda said he left his apartment and went to his aunt's home outside the city where he stayed for two to three weeks before making the trip to Poland.
"Last Thursday (March 17) I made the trip to Poland on the evacuation train," said Sereda, adding, "It was 13 hours from Kharkiv to Lviv and then I waited in line for six hours to board the train to the Polish border."
Sereda said the train was at full capacity with many children and mothers. The evacuees took turns sitting and standing.
"Overall it was a 25-hour journey from one end of the country to Poland," said Sereda.
Sereda's parents both come from Eastern Europe; his mother from Belarus and his father from Ukraine. He also has relatives who live in Ukraine, including two aunts and an uncle.
"They are safe," said Sereda of his relatives.
Sereda said he received help for his journey home from family members.
"My sister started a GoFundMe page for travel purchases -- and to replace all the stuff I left behind in the apartment in Ukraine."
Sereda said he felt an overwhelming sense of support in the form of messages, texts and calls from people who were concerned for his safety, adding that he is happy to be home.
"It still feels like a dream."
