When Kateryna Argyrou first saw a news report about missiles striking the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv, she said her heart sank.
“I was very scared for my family,” she said.
After several attempts, Ms Argyrou was at last able to get through to her parents. But she said their accounts did little to put her mind at ease.
“All the roads are blocked, there’s panic on the streets. Trying to get money out of an ATM, massive lines. The shops are empty,” she said.
“It’s a very difficult situation there now.”
Ms Argyrou was one of hundreds of Ukrainian Australians who gathered in Sydney on Friday to demonstrate against the Russian invasion of their homeland.
Protesters hold placards and Ukrainian flags during a rally at Martin Place in Sydney, Friday, 25 February, 2022. Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE
Much of the anger was directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the full-scale ground invasion and air assault the previous day.
“This loathsome, little one man has created all this and we've got to put a stop to it,” one person said.
“His people are going to die as well. Does he have any respect for life?” said another.
Among the crowd of about 300 were Russians, who made it clear they do not support the actions of their government.
“I'm Russian and I strongly condemn what's going on,” one Russian protester said, while another said they feel “very ashamed” and “embarrassed”.
“I love Ukraine. I have friends from Ukraine. I don't want to kill any Ukrainian people,” protester Anna said.
Protesters hold placards during a rally against the war in Ukraine at Martin Place in Sydney, Friday, February 25, 2022. Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE
‘Absolute shock’
The disbelief was also palpable at St Andrews Ukrainian Church in Sydney’s west on Friday, where churchgoers lit candles and prayed.
Speaking outside the church, Ukrainian Australian Olexa Matiouk said he felt “absolute shock” when hearing about the invasion.
“I was at work, and to be honest, the last two hours of my day was just a blaze,” he said.
“When the war broke out last night, my mum tried to get in contact with her brother, who is a security guard in central Ukraine. She couldn’t get in contact with him for a couple of hours, however, eventually the signal was able to get through."
What was worrying, he said, was his mother being able to get in contact with her brother before his wife could in Ukraine.
"But we were able to act as a link and provide information to his family that he was safe, he was fine, and that so far, nothing bad had happened.”
He said his biggest concern is civilian deaths.
“Ukraine doesn’t want a war. It’s Putin who wants war. And Ukraine is a peaceful country trying to defend its democracy and move towards a peaceful European existence, and we have this tyrant who can’t stand the fact that our country exists, our people exist.”
Mr Matiouk said he has heard from friends in Ukraine who “really appreciate that even in far away Australia, the Ukrainian spirit exists and that we are all fighting together to maintain the truth of what is happening in our homeland.”
“From here, all we can do is provide humanitarian support and spread the truth. That is our job,” he said.
‘Ukrainians are fighting back’
At the rally in Sydney’s CBD, the crowd called for the world's powers to react in more certain terms, saying their country was being "openly bombed" and Mr Putin had no regard for international law.
“We are not afraid. Ukrainians are fighting back. And they’re not only fighting back for their land; they’re fighting for you,” a speaker told the crowd.
“They’re fighting for freedom, for democracy, for the right of choice, for the world order where a larger country has no right to invade a smaller country just because it is larger."
They said “we are after all kinds of support,” including more economic and military aid, adding that "what is being done by the West to stand up to a bully right now is not enough".
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced more sanctions against Russia, which will mirror similar moves from the United States and the United Kingdom.
They’ll apply to members of Russia’s parliament who voted to authorise the military action, as well as Russian oligarchs.
Australia will also work alongside NATO partners to provide non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies to Ukraine.
"We are a long way from Ukraine, and the most effective way is to be doing that to our NATO partners to ensure we can support that commitment," Mr Morrison told reporters.
"We are providing financial support as well as equipment through that NATO channel."
With AAP.
