‘If I’m needed I will go’
As the world awoke last Thursday (February 24) to learn Russia, on orders of president Vladimir Putin, had attacked Ukraine along multiple axes, Sergiy Balan was sitting alone in the living room of his Laragh home, bleary eyed and phone in hand.
He'd been awake for hours, ever since rumour began spreading on instant messaging services that a major escalation by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, ongoing since 2014, was imminent.
When reports started trickling through that Russia had indeed begun mobilising its amassed armies, precipitated by the official recognition of two self-proclaimed states in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Sergiy shook his head.
"I am sad. I don't know what else to say, what else to feel. This is my country, my people, my family and my friends. I have Russian friends, many, here in Ireland, and I got calls saying they are sorry, they are ashamed by what Russia is doing to Ukraine. They cannot believe what is happening."
Sergiy is from a small village near the city Vinnytsia, located on the Southern Bug River, in west-central Ukraine, 400 kilometres from the capital Kyiv, and 50 kilometres from the border with Moldova.
It's a city that has its fair share of troubled history. During the 1930s and early 1940s the city was the site of several massacres, first during Stalin's purges and then later during the Holocaust in Ukraine and the Nazi occupation.
Though Vinnytsia has not yet witnessed first hand the devastation of Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukrainian territory, it has experienced the fallout. Tens of thousands of Ukranian refugees fleeing the fighting in the country’s east have sought shelter there as they pass through on their way to friendly neighbouring nations, some walking, all carrying the scars of having to leave their lives behind due to war.
When The Anglo-Celt spoke to married dad-of-four Sergiy, who made Ireland his home 21 years ago and works as a manager at Cootehill-based Woodside Mushrooms, he was travelling into Cavan Town to open a account in order to funnel funds back home to support those most in need.
“It is very dangerous in this moment. It’s real war, not like Putin is trying to say. It is a war against democracy, a war against the whole war.”
Putin has been an open critic of the post-1997 enlargement of NATO as a potential threat to his own country, and followed that with the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
With an eerie nod to one of the darkest periods of European history, Sergiy believes this alleged motivation is but a cover for what Putin really desires, and that is to “wipe out Ukrainian identity. Ukraine wants to join Europe. We want democracy! But [Putin] is a second Hitler. This is exactly like 1939 when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, and then Poland, and then further after that. That is exactly his same ambition, same methods and everything.”
Sergiy’s comments come too as high-level talks between Ukraine and Russia that took place on the border with Belarus on Monday morning ended without a breakthrough.
Both sides agreed to keep the negotiations going however and a second round of talks may take place in the coming days. Sergiy is “hopeful”, but isn’t “holding my breath”.
Sergiy has two brothers living at home, one younger and one older. He has appealed to both of them to leave Ukraine and come to live within him in Ireland with his family until the fighting is over.
“They say no. What will I tell my kids in the future? If I leave, and I escape, what can I say? I have to fight for the motherland. All Ukrainians are now united, everywhere in the whole world.”
Several of his relatives have taken up arms as part of local military service groups.
A woman man Sergiy once worked with here in Ireland has taken up a position against the Russians on the frontline where the worst of the fighting is reportedly taking place along the South-East. When the fighting first began, he says he contacted her. She sent a message back praising the effort of Ukrainians here in Ireland highlighting their plight.
In Ireland, a small protest of Ukrainian nationals outside the Russian embassy in Rathmines soon swelled to several hundred. Publicised scenes saw the Ambassador to Ireland’s car being pelted as it attempted to manoeuvre through swathes of waving blue and yellow.
Sergiy believes Yury Filatov to be nothing more than a “puppet” to Russian leader, Putin. Now facing possible expulsion from Ireland, Sergiy says “no matter. He’s a liar. Ask his boss, it doesn’t change. He only does what he’s told and says what he’s told.”
Sergiy also joined his fellow country men and women as they protested for Irish government against Russia, and latterly Belarus, outside Leinster House, the Ukrainian Embassy in Ballsbridge and at O’Connell Bridge.
At Leinster House the group were met by Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, and Sergiy says that Irish-Ukrainians are thankful “with all our hearts” for the support shown to date.
“We are planning on doing something locally as well,” says Sergiy, who believes the war in Ukraine is being fought on two separate fronts - on the ground with weapons, and in the hearts and minds of people using propaganda.
“The truth needs to be told. What is happening is completely against humanity. [Putin] does not care how many people will die. He is a terrorist.”
Sergiy says he is scared not just for the Ukraine, but what this war might now mean for the whole world.
“It’s hard to talk about this,” says Sergiy, going quiet on the other end of the phoneline for several long seconds. “I’m very upset by this. I know that Ukrainians will fight for our country, until the last man and woman. There are so many people there joining the army and, if they don’t have experience, they’re given guns to fight, to protect their homes. This is their lives, their homes, their land. They will protect it.”
Asked if he too was ready to return to Ukraine to fight if called upon, with a heavy-heart Sergiy says: “We’ll see what happens. We can do a lot here fighting the [information] war against Russia. If needed I will go. I had a phonecall from a lady in a hospital asking for anyone who can give medical help. If I’m needed I will go, straight away.”
He concludes with a simple but forthright plea: “We need help. Ukraine needs help, the Ukraine people needs help. What [Putin is] doing now is bombing hospitals, supermarkets, he has hit schools, crèches. So many innocent people have died. This war must stop!”
Sergiy has opened an account for donations to help fund the humanitarian effort in the Ukraine at Cavan Credit Union.
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