Minneapolis is home to a Ukrainian community that comes together to share their culture and heritage at the Ukrainian American Community Center in Northeast Minneapolis.
After weeks of worry for their home country, many are now angry and concerned as peace in Europe has been shattered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Luda Anastazievsky was born in Ukraine and, came to the United States and has been in contact with her family still in that country. She spoke with WCCO's Susie Jones about how hard it is to watch this from afar and support her home which is currently being invaded by Russia.
“I have family in Kyiv, I have family in Mariupol also,” says Anastazievsky. “I haven't been in touch with some of them. Some of them do not have good connection and they're kind of older people. I have family in Western Ukraine. I have relatives living in Russia, but I'm not in touch with them since 2014, because they were in support of the annexation of Crimea.”
Anastazievsky says it has been difficult to figure out ways to support her family and home country from afar.
“It's very hard,” Anastazievsky explains. “I can't sleep. I'm trying to work on the things that would be in support of Ukraine, like working with our elected representatives. In our community, I was the organizer of the rally by the Minnesota State Capitol last Saturday. We were trying to bring the community's attention to what's going on in Ukraine.”
Stefan Iwaskewycz is a Minneapolis-based photographer. He spoke to family members in Ukraine who shared conditions there as stores are being emptied and residents flee the eastern half of the country. Iwaskewycz talked to WCCO's Adam Carter Thursday.
“It's hard to describe,” says Iwaskewycz. “Rage, anger, sadness. Ukrainians have been fighting for centuries, and many of my own family members have participated in the struggle for the right of Ukrainians to exist as a people and as a nation.”
Iwaskewycz also says family he talked to in Western Ukraine, while not under direct attack from the Russians yet, are seeing people hoard things in stores and hotels filling up with people fleeing from the east.
“Full of anxiety and she said that she was out in the stores and there's now, she didn't say panic, but the stores are emptying out,” Iwaskewycz said. “You can't get toilet paper. She's in Western Ukraine and it's not a town where there's any, from what I understand, military installations. So there has not been rocket attacks or anything like that. But what was of interest to me that she said, she works in a hotel and in their hotel there are no rooms already. They’re filling up with people from Eastern Ukraine who are trying to get away.”
Iwaskewycz would also like to see more action from the U.S. and other NATO countries.
"How far will this go? When will the west step in more seriously?"
Both Iwaskewycz and Anastazievsky are planning to attend a rally in Minneapolis Thursday evening at St. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church. Their post on Facebook is asking that attendees "please come to the EMERGENCY RALLY to support Ukraine. Bring your Ukrainian flags and signs. Please share and invite your friends."
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