As war with Russia rages on, a pair of Ukrainians have provided Bayshore Broadcasting a unique insight into residents’ ongoing efforts to defend their country.
Taras Bereziuk and Taras Byk say morale remains high in Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks.
Byk says ordinary life in Ukraine was ‘great’ prior to the war and that citizens there now realize this even more.
He describes people developing their businesses and livelihoods and enjoying ‘good Western-style’ lifestyles before everything changed forever.
“No one thought real war like this could happen in 21st century Europe,” says Byk, looking back.
In the days leading up to Russia’s attack, there were signs beyond the amassing of troops at Ukraine’s borders.
A political analyst, Byk took his family to Western Ukraine two weeks prior to the war’s outbreak so they would be safe. At that time, ordinary citizens were also undergoing medical aid and military training. Despite this, Byk says it was still difficult to realize that outright war was possible and with such full-scale attacks.
He lives near the Western suburbs of Kyiv and speaking to us Friday, said he hears explosions from both Russian missiles and the Ukraine military daily, as well as sirens that signal when people have to go down into basements to hide.
Some places near him have been completely destroyed he says, pointing at three small area towns in the western suburbs that have become key battlegrounds.
It’s shocking to him, as he used to bicycle in these places with his family where there are public amenities like parks and amusement parks.
The pair’s message to Canada? This is not only a local conflict.
“This is a global war,” says Byk. “This is the clash of civilizations that everyone was talking about for so long. Because Ukraine is defending the free and democratic world against a regime of totalitarianism and a regime of slavery. And you have to realize that if Ukraine fails, Russia will never stop here. Russia will go further and farther.”
This is why, Byk says, Ukraine is asking western countries for as much support as possible.
So far they have asked for as many weapons as they can get, he says, as Russia has been accumulating theirs for decades.
“(We are) very grateful for the help, but it’s not enough,” he says.
Byk says sanctions are great too but he feels they should have been initiated in 2014 when the first stirrings of political conflict in the area became manifest.
In Western Ukraine, Taras Bereziuk says that while the situation where he lives is much calmer than places like Kyiv, residents there are working 24/7 to help the refugees of the country.
Bereziuk says they could summon up military forces around Lviv in case it’s needed should full-on attacks happen there, but in the meantime, he and others keep busy helping to organize resistance and getting support from Poland.
There have been some Russian airstrikes already near Lviv, but Bereziuk (above left) says no direct attacks on the city thus far. They have only happened in the region on direct military units and locations during the first two days of the war.
Since war was first declared, citizens in Ukraine have gone through phases of shock, denial, then acceptance says Byk.
Still – morale remains high and continues to grow.
“I see that the spirit is so high that Ukrainians I would say are determined as never before to fight back and to get to victory,” he says.
Byk says the unprecedented awareness spread about the war on social media and the outpouring of support the world over has been very helpful.
From his perspective, he says it puts pressure on local politicians in the West to help and support Ukraine.
On Friday he was also surprised Russia hadn’t cut communication via the internet.
Entire networks supporting one another have been able to grow up because of this, he says. A friend of his has created an online group for Polish-Ukrainians which has brought about huge assistance by bringing clothing and food to those who need it in his country.
“This is one of the key elements why we are winning this war,” says Byk.
Bereziuk shares Byk’s (above) optimism.
A small business metal worker just like an uncle he has in Canada, he has many relatives here which also include his grandfather’s brother’s other children and grandchildren.
Bereziuk says he is keeping busy helping along humanitarian lines and says all of his employees which number about 100 are doing something every day to win the war from their location.
“We collect medicines, products, clothes, and other things and deliver them to Lviv,” says Bereziuk. “All this goes towards helping people who have been left homeless and those we accept in the west of Ukraine.”
Photos via Taras Bereziuk