By Georgia FreeFriday 24 Feb 2023Hope DriveSocial JusticeReading Time: 2 minutes
This week marks one year since the invasion of Russia into Ukraine – and while it may have left our headlines, the war is very much ongoing.
Thousands have died, millions more have been displaced. Vice President of the Ukrainian Council of NSW Andrew Mencinsky joined Hope Drive to share an update on the situation on the ground and how Ukrainians in Sydney are feeling this week.
“This week is a traumatic week for displaced Ukrainians,” Andrew said.
“They have to relive the trauma and stress of a year ago, when bombs fell in the middle of the night all over Ukraine.”
However, despite the hardships faced over the past year, many Ukrainians have settled in Sydney remarkably well.
“Kids are now in school, a lot are finding apartments and they’re all learning English so they can build a life here,” Andrew said.
“There is the ever-present stress knowing that their loved ones back in Ukraine are at risk of death every single day.
“But Ukrainians are brave and resilient, and they make the best of the hands they’ve been dealt.”
Back in Ukraine, life, in a strange way has also returned to a semblance of normal.
“It’s remarkable how accustomed Ukrainians have become to the daily threat of death,” Andrew said.
“Schools have reopened, restaurants and businesses have reopened.
“But there are well executed drills when air raid sirens come on.
“People are just trying to get on with it, and not live in fear.”
Listen to Andrew’s full interview in the player above.
For more information on the work of the Ukrainian Council of NSW, visit their website.