Several hundred people gathered peacefully on the median strip on Canberra Avenue outside the Russian Embassy in Griffith again today as daily protests continue for a second week.

A series of speakers representing various communities – from Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, and Australia, among others – addressed the crowd to a constant chorus of honking horns from passing vehicles blaring their support for Ukraine.

Among those present was Dr Roman Danylak, a university computing academic who conducts the Ukrainian men’s choir in Canberra.

“We’re very grateful for support from the Australian government, for critical weaponry, and the medical support that’s been flown to Ukraine. It’s really what they need. They are desperate,” Dr Danylak said.

“I speak to my relatives regularly. It’s heartbreaking to hear what they are going through at the moment.

“We are absolutely appalled by what Putin and the Russian government are doing to Ukraine.

“We would hope for Ukraine to be accepted into the European Union immediately and for NATO to take action against Russia. Putin only understands strength and aggression back. There is no point in talking to him. He pretends he is listening but he only respects strength.

“We live in a democratic country, here in Australia, for which the right to free speech is secured. This is a fight for free speech in the world. This will be remembered for many years, but we have not won that battle yet,” he said.

“The fear is, of course, that thousands of men, women and children, their blood will be spilled in this completely pointless grab for land.

“Putin is attempting to erase the Ukrainian people. He says we have no language, no culture. Ukrainians have occupied that land for 1,500 years continuously. They have distinct language, distinct culture, distinct literature. This is madness. That has always been the case, that Stalinist Russian and before that, believed the Ukrainian people were to be erased and just to be used and exploited for Russia’s own benefit.”

Dr Danylak said the symbolism of seeing Australian Parliament House and Sydney Opera House being lit up in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag sent an important message to the people of Ukraine.

“That’s terrific because people in Ukraine, those images get to them … they can see that they’re not alone.”

Born in Australia to post-WWII immigrants who were orphaned during the war, Dr Danylak said his family has always been “very grateful for the protection and freedom afforded to us by Australia”.

“We grew up and were educated here and we were never persecuted by anyone. We have enjoyed the freedoms of this country and we are grateful for the support the Australian government has now given to Ukraine and we hope will continue to give.”

At a local level, he said the Canberra community can write to their local Member of Parliament, telling them they understand how important this is to defend democracy in the world, and to ask your local politicians what more can be done.

“Let your friends know, be interested, look for information, look for the truth. I think it’s getting through to people that Putin is just a liar. I think people can see that truth is definitely a casualty in his hands.”

Dr Danylak said the location of the ongoing protests outside the Russian Embassy in Canberra was “a direct protest to the diplomatic representatives of Russia from Australia”.

“We are all Australians here and there are many nationalities represented – there are Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Latvians, Lithuanians here today – and we come here to make a political statement direct to the Ambassador of Russia.”

With the daily presence of protestors across the road and the constant cacophony of horns honking support, he said he hoped the embassy staff were feeling “uncomfortable”.

“And no doubt, it’s better than doing nothing,” he said.

“We’re a peaceful group and there hasn’t been violence here so I think the police presence [outside the embassy] is measured. We are not violent.

“We’re not storming the embassy. We are seeing enough violence and bloodshed in Ukraine; we don’t need more.”

For more like this:

• Local Ukrainians rally EU Delegation calling for no-fly zone
• When and where to support Ukraine in Canberra this weekend
• ANU shows support for Ukraine, suspends ties with Russian institutions

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