MANAMA: Ukrainian expatriates living in Bahrain have described their distress as they helplessly watched Russia invade their country, praying their families back home will survive the onslaught of their neighbour’s military might.
However, they believe the assault on the capital city of Kyiv and other cities and towns has united the country determined to fight on despite the odds.
Fighting back tears, Hanna Makoviichuk, 26, who has been living in Bahrain for three years and is married to a Bahraini, described how everyone in Ukraine appears to be taking up arms to defend themselves and their country – including her 59-year-old dad.
Terrified
She said that she was terrified for the safety of her father, Wasyl Makoviichuk, and mother Walentyna, who live in Chernivtsi, a city in western Ukraine.
It’s known for the 1875-founded Chernivtsi National University, which features Romanesque and Byzantine architecture and the Chernivtsi University Botanical Garden. At the heart of the old town is Central Square, with the blue, neoclassical City Hall.
“I want everybody to understand that we are united and stronger than ever before,” she told the GDN. “We will continue to choose our future and we don’t want others to choose it for us. We are a strong independent nation.
“The Russians have come to destroy our homes and we have to stand and protect our country.
“My father, who was not called for military service, decided by himself to take up arms to defend my family, our home and our country.
“I asked my mother, why did my father, at his age, take up arms? She said it is because we all have to unite and fight for our country.”
Nightmare
Ms Makoviichuk said that her parents are also helping provide food and aid to others who have fled their homes and trekked to their area, which is still not being controlled by Russian forces, seeking shelter.
“My friends in Kyiv have had bombs drop near their buildings and many people in the capital are living a nightmare,” she added.
“One, aged 35, is married and has two children and is pregnant with her third. The family had to flee from the capital after rockets were fired at several buildings close by.
“They drove 530km to Chernivtsi, where my family are living, because their home was no longer safe.
“My parents are very calm but I’m so worried about them and all I can do is call them through WhatsApp.
“They were living in a peaceful country, before everything turned upside down.
“Ukrainians in Bahrain are all getting together to share information and help one another during these difficult times.”
Another Ukranian in her 20s living in Bahrain, who asked to be identified only as Diana, described how her parents were in the middle of the war-torn capital city.
“The Russians are trying to enter Kiev from the northern side from Belarus and I saw that a few tanks had made it into the city,” she said.
“I haven’t slept since the day we heard about the war. I’m afraid for my family’s safety, because they live in the capital. My friend’s apartment was hit by a rocket and their building is next to my old school.
“There are no flights back home and I cannot bring my family to Bahrain. There are thousands of people who are trying to get out of the war zone.”
Both have said that they had hoped for tougher sanctions from the West against Russia but expressed z
understanding over Nato’s unwillingness to get involved militarily.
noorz@gdn.com.bh
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