Shostokryli Answer the Call to Aid Ukraine

Shostokryli in the U.S. have joined the resistance against Russian aggression in several ways to assist Ukraine. Rallies are being planned, funds are being raised, medical supplies are being packaged, information is being deployed against Putin’s propaganda.

United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio President Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher was interviewed on Fox 8 News by Wayne Dawson on March 4, 2022. Chair of the Board of Directors of Ukrainian School Ridna Shkola Natalie Oryshkewych was interviewed on March 9, 2022.

Marta told Wayne that everyone is surprised by the unprovoked attack on Ukraine and that this is a daily stress for Ukrainians in America with ties to their homeland. The United Ukrainian Organizations maintains a Fund to Aid Ukraine (fundforukraine.org), first set up to help victims of Chernobyl and most recently used to help victims of the 2014 invasion of Eastern Ukraine and Crimea. The fund was set up to promote democracy and provide humanitarian aid and now the fund is asking for help for Ukraine in a time of all-out war. It is asking for money to purchase and ship needed goods, it is asking for medical supplies, and it is asking for Kevlar vests and helmets. There is still an open corridor from Poland into L’viv. UUO’s fund has the history and the infrastructure to be a good steward of any donated funds. Marta stressed that there will likely be more bloodshed and Wayne agreed that the key is U.S. and NATO support to stand up to Putin. When asked whether economic sanctions will work, Marta said they will work, but they take time and Ukraine does not have time. Ukraine needs a no-fly zone and it needs continued support from the world. When Marta shared a “We Stand with Ukraine” placard, Wayne said: “No doubt about that.”

Natalie told Wayne that the Ridna Shkola Ukrainian School in Cleveland was established in 1953 by post-World War II refugees. Right now, the work of Ridna Shkola is more important than ever; students are learning about Ukrainian culture, its history, literature, and geography – all the things that Putin is trying to subvert. The students are seeing what is going on and they know how wrong it is. When asked whether the students learn about the relationship between Russia and Ukraine, Natalie replied that the history between the geographic neighbors has not been good, and now history is repeating. Natalie’s parents and the parents of many of Ridna Shkola’s students were refugees of Soviet occupation, and now there are more refugees fleeing Russian aggression. The war is hard to explain to younger students because all they know is what their parents and grandparents tell them and what they see on the news, but the older students understand the history. Students ask questions, they watch the news, many have direct contact with people still in Ukraine. “Ridna Shkola” translates to “Native School” – teaching Ukrainian culture is something post-World War II refugees felt duty-bound to do while Ukraine was under Soviet occupation and the Soviets were actively destroying Ukrainian cultural institutions. Natalie’s family lives in both Eastern and Western Ukraine, and her husband has family in Western Ukraine. Wayne asked if the U.S. is doing enough. Natalie’s greatest fear is the loss of independence in Ukraine and the resulting destruction of a people. Wayne asked if the country is strong enough to defend itself. Natalie said that she hopes it can, with the support of the U.S. and the world and she said that “we are all Ukrainian now.”