Next Monday (February 27 ) marks the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In those 356 days, the stark reality of war in our time has been laid bare. Thousands killed, millions displaced, towns, villages and homes destroyed, and a country stripped of its right to exist.
The magnitude of Putin’s unnecessary invasion is that some 18 million people have been affected, of which a staggering eight million people have been classified as refugees, suffering consequential trauma and psychological problems. It is recorded as being the greatest refugee surge in OECD countries since World War II . All without cause, unprovoked and indefensible.
It has shattered peace in Ukraine, and reignited fears. Russia’s President Putin may euphemistically title it as a “special military operation”, but no one is fooled, and with the continued veiled threat of nuclear weaponry, the West has been forced to tip-toe into Ukraine in its efforts of support.
That is why US president Joe Biden made a timely call to visit Ukraine this week. It has taken some time, and he follows many European leaders - French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The first leaders to visit were from Poland, Czech Replublic and Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania - countries who understood the plight, having been occupied for 50 years before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Now a year later, there is overwhelming world opposition, and a growing fear from former Soviet controlled countries that Putin may not stop in Ukraine - that his stance is hardening after reiterating this week that Russia would achieve its aims - thus, for the first time since the Cold War, the threat of nuclear war is being revived.
Here in Ireland and Galway we stand in solidarity with Ukrainians, and there are many ways in which we can help, whether donating goods or providing employment. As of last December Galway employers had hired some one thousand Ukrainian refugees - a fourth of the 4,000 who arrived in Galway since the start of the Russian invasion of their country.
People interested can contact the Immigrant Council of Ireland which provides a helpful guide. And over the next week we hope Galwegians will join in supporting the many initiatives taking place in support of their nation and their people. The Galway City Council is taking a leading role with supports in place for the health and wellbeing of Ukrainians living here, but our Galway Ukrainians, are also doing it for themselves - strong women such as Olena Domina and Tetiana Horobets - who are just two of the many displaced Ukrainians not wallowing in self pity, but leading the support structures within their community.
