Please scroll down to the bottom of this article for more on the interview with Julia Krykavska and CJRB's Betty Sawatzky in audio format.

Ukrainians around the world are shocked and heart-broken to see the destruction of their motherland, and the ongoing Russian forces that continue to ravage her cities and her people.

The Ukrainian-Canadian Tryzub Association (UCA “Tryzub”) of Brandon has been collecting items and monetary donations to send home to Ukraine to help in every which way they can.

Co-founder of the organization, Julia Krykavska, moved from the country of Ukraine to Canada in 2008 and has lived in the City of Brandon for the past 14 years.   

Krykavska says the UCA “Tryzub” was started eight years ago when Russia first invaded parts of Ukraine in 2014.  They’ve been organizing fundraising events since then to help their fellow Ukrainians overseas.  Since February 24th, when Russia declared war on Ukraine and brought disastrous devastation and thousands of deaths to that country, the UCA “Tryzub” has increased their fundraising efforts.

“This is absolutely not right what is going on at home in our Motherland, and we are doing and will be doing as much as we can to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” she states.

“We are thankful for Canada for accepting us as our second home, but right now we are doing everything that we can to support our country, to support our families because most of us still have families back home, either immediate family members or relatives or friends,” she says.

“Support by way of monetary donations helps us to purchase the things that are most needed.  We send money over to the volunteers over in Ukraine to the volunteer’s site where everything is logistically set up and then transported to the most affected areas if possible,” explains Krykavska.  “These are volunteers who we personally know, or we know through the people we trust.”

The Fundraising and donation drive have resulted in two shipments of supplies sent to Winnipeg, and still there is more in storage at the European grocery store in downtown Brandon on 10th Street, Your Home Store, which has become a hub for Ukrainian support.

Krykavska encourages supporters to give monetary donations as that can be sent immediately overseas.

“We can then purchase items in Ukraine that is available at stores, and we can purchase things in Europe through online and avoid all of the expenses for transportation.  Our volunteers have access to different countries and can physically go there and purchase supplies and deliver it to the places that need it the most.”

“Some of the regions are not accessible because of the aggression and the roadways are blocked by the Russians,” she adds. “But our volunteers have tried to do as much as they can to deliver medical, military or humanitarian supplies to the most affected regions, and every day we get an updated list of items required.”

Funds donated to the Brandon organization are transferred to Ukraine volunteers as soon as possible.  “We move money on the account daily,” she explains.  “When we have money, we move that money right away to the people in the Ukraine who need it and not hold on to it until the end of the week, because every day and every minute counts.”

Supplies not able to be sourced in Europe is purchased in Canada and then sent over to the waiting volunteers.

Krykavska says there has been a great amount of support from the residents of Brandon and the entire Westman area.  Fundraising events include a local art sale and the making and selling of home-made perogies.  “People have been very supportive, and we can’t even express how thankful we are for living in such a great community with such wonderful people here in Manitoba.”

Krykavska shares how they have so appreciated their Manitoba neighbors, and also the Canadian government for support programs, donations and for opening the doors for Ukrainian refugees to find safety in Canada. 

However, she add, “when something like this happens in our Motherland, we cannot stand aside and that’s why we all stepped in as volunteers and try to do as much as we can to support our country, to support our families. This is absolutely not right what is going on at home in our Motherland, and we are doing and will be doing as much as we can to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”

Julia Krykavska says Ukrainians around the world are pleading to the entire world to close the skies over Ukraine - to put a stop to the aerial bombing and further destruction.  “This is not just about Ukraine,” she adds.  “This is already a Third World War but with only 2 participants.”

Please listen to the remainder of the interview with Julia Krykavska and Betty Sawatzky.  Krykavska shares more of her appreciation of her Manitoba community.  She also further explains why the plea to close the skies over Ukraine is desperate  - the Russian bombing puts their nuclear power plants in danger.

In the following audio clip, Krykavska mentions the 1994 Budapest memorandum of Security Assurances that reflects commitments by the United States, Russia and Great Britain the assurance that the U.S and Russia would respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and that there would be no use of force or threat against Ukraine, if Ukraine dismantled and eliminated their nuclear arsenal, which they did.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine on February 24th is in direct violation of the Budapest memorandum of Security Assurances.

To donate:

Transfer or deposit to UCA “Tryzub” account:

  • Westoba Credit Union
  • UCA “Tryzub” Account Number: 250203096195
  • Transit: 61887
  • Route: 879
  • E-transfer:  tryzubukraine@gmail.com (auto deposit)

 

Cheques can be mailed or dropped off at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for a tax deductible receipt:

 

  • St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church
  • c/o Fr. Y. Strukhlyak
  • 927 Assiniboine Avenue
  • Brandon, MB
  • R7A 0G7
  • (Specify ‘Ukraine’ in the memo line please)

 

(Inset picture):  Saturday, March 5th parade organized by Brandon University and the Brandon Chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian congress.  The parade was in support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, to share information and fundraising efforts, and to keep up the political pressure for an end to the Russian invasion. 

Visit the UCA “Tryzub”Facebook page for regular updates:   https://m.facebook.com/groups/UCATrysub/photos/