I have only ever been inside the Russian Embassy in Canberra Avenue, Griffith, once. In January 1964, a schoolmate and I decided to see how much worth of books / propaganda we could get from the three big embassies then in Canberra. We got 10 shillings and sixpence worth from the US embassy (about $1.05 in today’s prices); one pound’s worth ($2) from the British; and about £8 worth ($16) from the Russian (Soviet) embassy. Indeed, the Russian councillor said, pointing to his bookshelf: “Help yourselves, boys!” My mate and I could have walked away with the collected works of Lenin if we had wanted!

I’ve since been to a few demonstrations outside the Russian embassy (and others as well – like the South African embassy in 1971, during Apartheid). There have been Ukrainian demonstrations outside the Russian embassy since at least 1969 when an enraged Ukrainian patriot by the name of Ivan Kavelenko tried to burn the front hedge down as a protest. He failed, and copped a $400 fine for his trouble. He subsequently stood for the seat of Canberra in 1975, and got about 400 votes (including from my father and me). It was the only time my dad and I ever voted the same way. He was ALP, and I was Liberal. However, like all good Poles, he always supported Ukrainians against Russian / Soviet imperialism.

Which brings me to this Friday, 24 February – the first anniversary of the horrific and surreal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The local Ukrainian community and their supporters will be out in force from 10am until 5pm outside the embassy. They would love as many of you as possible to join them, even if it is only for a few minutes, to show your support for an inspirational little nation’s fight against its big bully neighbour. The people of Ukraine are fighting for our freedom as well as theirs.

Come and meet some of the local Ukrainian Canberrans who have ensured there has been a presence outside the embassy Monday to Saturday every day since the invasion.

Meet the redoubtable local Ukrainian priest, Father Michael Solomko. If you feel like it, and want to help further, ask Father Michael or any of the organisers what you can do to help Ukraine.

A highlight of Friday’s demonstration will be a group of anti-Putin Russians from Sydney, who are coming to show their solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and remind us this is very much Putin’s war, not the Russian people’s war. They will be there from 11am till noon.

We in the West cannot lose interest in Ukraine. That is what Putin is banking on. The West needs to intensify its help for Ukraine, and keep the pressure on Putin on multiple fronts, from the continued supply of weapons to further efforts to destabilise him, but at the same time show ordinary Russians that Russia’s future lies in real peace with Ukraine and the West.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Daily.

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