(Derek Craddock/ paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

FROM UKRAINE TO P.A.

‘This is our country’: local Ukrainians react to unfolding situation with Russia

Jan 29, 2022 | 9:00 AM

As tensions continue to mount between Ukraine and Russia, many in the local Ukrainian community worry about what will happen next.

Prince Albert boasts a large Ukrainian community with a local Veselka Heritage Club, Ukrainian parishes and a choir.

For one prominent member of the community, what’s unfolding in his homeland is sometimes too much to take in.

Sitting in his living room inside his South Hill home surrounded by religious relics and watching the latest from a Ukrainian news channel on YouTube, Vasyl Sergeniuk shared his concerns about the current tensions and how we got here.

A first-generation Canadian, Vasyl recalled the decades of conflict between the two nations all while asking one major question: What happens next?

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“Ukraine don’t want to go back to Russia,” he said. “This is our country, not a Russian country.”

While battling emotion and fighting off tears, Vasyl said all Russian President Vladimir Putin wants is war and a chance to reclaim Ukraine once again.

“This country Ukraine, it’s very democrat and a good country and people. The Ukrainian people want democratic.”

Despite claiming independence following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, relations between Russia and Ukraine have been tense.

In 2014, Russian soldiers occupied the peninsula of Crimea, a region where most residents are ethnically Russian. Shortly after, a referendum was held where voters agreed to the annexation of the peninsula back to Russia.

The referendum and results were immediately disputed by members of the European Union, with some calling it illegal and illegitimate.

That referendum and annexation were eventually followed by the War in Donbas, a conflict still going on today.

In October of last year, Russia began moving troops near the Ukrainian border, leading to speculation an invasion could occur at any time.

In December, Russian authorities demanded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) not allow Ukraine to join its ranks, a demand the organization has since rejected.

Earlier this week Canada ordered diplomats and their families living in Ukraine to leave the country amid the rising tensions. Prime Minister Trudeau also announced the current Canadian Forces operation in the country, known as UNIFIER, would be extended by another three years.

For Vasyl, all he can do is watch, pray, and hope that a peaceful resolution can be found. However, he admits, conflict is also an outcome.

Meanwhile, standing by Vasyl’s side is his friend and long time Prince Albert resident Taras Kachkowski.

A fourth-generation Canadian, Kachkowski said he’s grown up with a love of the Ukrainian culture.

“We took Ukrainian dance when we were young. We spoke Ukrainian in the home for the most part, especially as we were younger. Mom and Dad took great effort to teach us a deep love and appreciation of our ancestral language and culture. For that, I’m very grateful that we live in Canada where we have the opportunity to do that.”

Taras said like many in the local Ukrainian community, he is watching with bated breath, hopeful that the current tensions don’t escalate further.

“I definitely think of my family and friends fairly often and hope everything resolves peacefully soon. All Ukrainians want is just to be able to live in freedom and peace.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock