On level 12 of a nondescript office building on Marcus Clarke Street in the City sits the humble Embassy of Ukraine. In a circular room with doors leading off to a handful of offices, the Deputy Head of the Mission, Volodymyr Shalkivskyi, greeted us with a serious smile and ushered us into the space. Humble indeed, the centrepiece of the Embassy foyer is two flags – Ukrainian and Australian – a fiddle leaf tree, two couches, and felt partitions adorned with images of Ukraine’s glorious architectural wonders: a simple reminder of home.

We were then led to the Ambassador’s office, where His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko met us with a broad smile and a warm handshake. Brand-new to Canberra, the Ambassador’s posting was expedited because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, making him a war-time Ambassador within a few months.

His journey to Canberra feels like something out of a movie – after applying for the position of Ambassador and being selected in record time, seeing the dramatic change in his country, and fleeing to Romania in order to leave Ukraine, here he is.

“It’s been a crazy month to be frank. I still can’t believe it’s happening to me. I couldn’t come from Ukraine directly; I came from Romania because there’s no flights out of Ukraine. I was based in Kyiv when the war started. We tried to escape for two days but we couldn’t get out of the city because there was traffic jams and no fuel,” recalls Mr Myroshnychenko.

“We then went to my hometown and several days later my wife asked me to take her to Romania with our 18-year-old daughter and five-year-old son. So, I drove her to the border and they crossed it on foot. They were there for three weeks and once I got the appointment and I picked up the credentials, I went to Romania, and we flew out to Australia.

“It should have taken about six months for this procedure to take place – if it wasn’t for the war, I would have come here in June. I was supposed to be in Ukraine meeting people, getting instructions and requirements… but it’s war now.”

The view of Black Mountain from the Ambassador’s window is distinctly Canberran, and although the Ukrainian Embassy possesses many differences from other embassies, the Ambassador said he doesn’t mind.

“It’s a different location than most of the embassies but there’s no life there apart from those houses. Of course, they’re nice and they’re beautiful but here I can go to the shopping centre, it’s lovely and vibrant, and there’s some coffee places and people are there – you can just feel it’s a city and you’re not isolated,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

“I knew there was no [Ukrainian] embassy here and I though it would be good to get a plot and build it, but for now, of course, we have a different priority – to get weapons for Ukraine – so there’s no money for the Embassy.”

Arriving just 11 days ago hasn’t allowed the new Ambassador to explore much of Canberra, and his job is 24/7 at the moment. But living in Kingston has given him a few opportunities to run beside the lake, which he says he “loves”.

“I’ve received a very warm welcome here. I’d actually never been to Australia before. I’ve lived in the US, the UK in London, and Canada, and I’m trying to figure out who Australians are similar to, but I haven’t yet, to be frank,” he smiled.

“What I can say for now is I really love all the Australians I’ve met. What I like about you is you’re very simple, down-to-earth, straightforward people and that’s just what I’m like.”

Meeting local Ukrainian community top priority

Meeting the local Ukrainian community was at the top of Ambassador Myroshnychenko’s list when he arrived in Canberra, and the very day after landing, he spent some time at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“I still have to see the Ukrainian Catholic Church, but I really look forward to meeting many more people from the Australian Ukrainian community. I think the Ukrainian community has mobilised here and is very united. They are fundraising money for Ukraine, they’re helping those who have come here [displaced people] and they’re very motivated and united,” he said.

“I saw so many locals here at the Ukrainian Church last week and on Sunday I was at the White Eagle Polish Club, that was also attended by many local people, and not necessary of Polish or Baltic backgrounds. There was picnic and barbecue, so I would encourage local people to join those fundraisers.

“I’m not sure how many Ukrainians are going to come to Canberra, but there might be some coming, so I would like to ask local companies to hire those people. They will have a three-year permit to work, so please hire them and give them jobs.

“They’re very hardworking people and diligent with a high integrity. They didn’t leave the country because they wanted to; they left because they were forced to.”

Protests outside Russian Embassy in Canberra

Every Saturday morning outside the Embassy of Russia on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, there is a gathering of local people protesting the invasion, and Ambassador Myroshnychenko is glad the Canberra community are rallying for Ukraine.

“I would like to thank [people protesting] for that. We need them there every Saturday. We need to have them there as a sign of support for Ukraine, a sign of condemnation of the barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Mr Myroshnychenko said.

“I want them there so every Russian diplomat knows and can see the pictures of the war crimes committed by the Russian military, and I want them to be there so that those Russian diplomats understand what they’re doing in Ukraine.”

When it comes to the politics of an unprovoked war in his country, Ambassador Myroshnychenko’s demeanor changed in an instant. A warm and friendly presence, yet undoubtedly determined to do what he can to save Ukraine.

Asked if he felt the Russian Ambassador to Australia, Dr Alexey Pavlovsky, should be expelled from the country, he responded: “The argument of the Australians that we need to maintain a channel of communication is valid and I totally get it. You still have your citizens in Russia that you need to take care of so it’s clear that you need to still maintain a presence.

“Most of those diplomats that have been ejected in other countries were intelligence officers who used to work undercover as diplomats, and I’m sure there are some of those here in Australia. If Australia feels like they want to expel them, we would take it as a sign of support for Ukraine.

“We’ve heard all the lies from the Russian Ambassador and Russian President and the Russian political establishment. We are defending our country… our sovereignty. Russia is on a mission to take control of the country and we will not allow that.

“We will keep on fighting – it’s a clear message. We didn’t go to invade Russia; we want Russia out of our country. We want to pursue European integration; we want to build a strong and prosperous country.”

Australian support for Ukraine

Reflecting on Australia and Ukraine’s current relationship, Ambassador Myroshnychenko had only kind words about his new country of residence and the military support, particularly the supply of Bushmaster vehicles.

“I’m amazed. I just had a meeting in Parliament with Defence Minister Peter Dutton, and he said this is the quickest turnaround he has seen in his time in politics. It’s a very strong signal of support for Ukraine and I, as an incoming war-time ambassador, was extremely pleased and surprised by such a quick and prompt reply to Ukraine,” he said.

“You can imagine with the time difference, our President makes a request on Thursday in the morning for him and by the end of the day, the same day in Ukraine, he gets a reply because it was already morning for Scott Morrison here. So for us, everybody knows Bushmasters are coming to Kyiv, it’s been all over the news in Ukraine, but just the fact they are coming is just amazing. We need them.

“We have also made a request for the Australian Government to help us document war crimes and to assist with all the proceedings within the criminal court. So, this is a very long process that takes time, and we really hope we’ll be able to get this support, along with allies in Europe and North America, because that’s what we need. We need to keep Russia accountable.

“Along with the sanctions, which are very effective, we are also looking at some of the Australian companies doing business in Russia. We call on them to stop their operations in Russia. I will not name those companies yet, I want to reach them privately and encourage them to leave Russia. I understand it’s maybe not that easy to leave but any business with Russia is now toxic.”

Imagining life after the war may seem a distant dream for now, but Ambassador Myroshnychenko already has plans for Australian–Ukrainian relations.

“We now have a momentum and I can see that we can take our relationship to a totally new level. Previously our business and economic trade was very limited and humble and for me, when I was coming here, my mission was to work in trade and investment.

“Now, obviously, dealing with military assistance is my main priority, but I hope that when we get back to reconstruction, I’ll be able to bring our relationship to a totally new level. Not just on trade and investment, but on tourism, culture, education, and airspace. I’m looking forward to that but for the time being we need to defeat Putin, and we need Russia to withdraw from the territory of Ukraine. We need to guarantee our sovereignty and integrity to be able to get to that.

“My president, when he addressed Australian Parliament, he asked Australia to help us with the reconstruction of maritime infrastructure in the Black Sea ports and the Sea of Azov. Several days ago, Russia launched a missile on all the refineries, and of course, the port was destroyed.

“Seventy per cent of our exports go from the Black Sea ports, so the destruction there…. I’m not sure exactly what has been destroyed because there’s been so many things going on, but the damage is serious, and that’s what our president has asked Australia to help with.”

With his parents” relatively safe”, about 350km south-west of Kyiv, his brother working in the construction business in western Ukraine, and his mother in-law the closest to Kyiv just 150km south-east from the capital, Mr Myroshnychenko is well aware there’s not a place in Ukraine which is “safe”.

However, in between working to save his country, he has found one Sunday to take his family to the National Zoo, at the request of his son.

“I look forward to engaging with Australians, and I want to thank all Canberrans for the support they’ve already provided. I know there’s been lots of letters that we’ve received, there’s been some items, there was a box last week with some Nutella and other goodies, and flowers, and it feels special,” Ambassador Myroshnychenko smiled.

“My last and final message to Australians and Canberrans would be that when the war is over, come visit Ukraine and see all of its beauty.”

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