By Mike Sandrolini
The eyes of the world have been on Ukraine ever since Russia launched a full-scale invasion Feb. 24, but Yuriy and Galina Veselovsky of Elmhurst have a vested interest in what’s happening there.
Originally from Ukraine, Yuriy and Galina lived in Ukraine’s Lviv province, located in the western part of the country (close to the Polish border) before moving to the United States in 1995. They resided in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village for five years and have been in Elmhurst since 2000.
Yuriy and Galina still have family and relatives living in Ukraine. Yuriy’s father and mother (ages 87 and 82, respectively), along with his brother and his brother’s children, live in Lviv. He and Galina also have aunts and cousins that live in different regions of Ukraine.
Interviewed recently by the Independent, Yuriy mentioned that he talks to his mother, father and brother several times throughout the day. He said neither his parents nor his brother plan on leaving their home.
“They (his parents) said, ‘We’re ready to die if we need to,’ but they can’t really help because of their age,” Yuriy said. “My brother said, ‘No, we’re not leaving. I need to watch my parents and I need to support the country.’ “
Since the invasion, Yuriy said “we haven’t had normal sleep.”
“We sleep maybe just three or four hours or less,” said Yuriy, who works as a quality manager at Lewis Plastics in Addison. “The first day (of the invasion) we were staying up until 4 a.m. because there’s eight hours difference between Ukraine and here.”
Yuriy said he and Galina keep abreast of developments in their homeland by accessing different sources of information-including Ukraine TV and other channels available online-“to understand exactly how severe the situation is right now.”
Their Elmhurst neighbors, Galina said, “Have been very helpful,” since the war started.
“The day the war started in the early morning, I started seeing text messages of support,” she said. “It’s very devastating. Unfortunately, the only thing we can do is pray.”
Assault intensifies
Over the past several days, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded and intensified Russia’s assault on Ukraine, which is now in its second week. On March 4, a European Union official said “the Russians are bombing and shelling everything (in Ukraine). Hospitals, houses, schools. A lot of civilian casualties.”
That same day, Russian forces seized and took control of the nuclear power plant in the city of Zaporizhzhia, located in southeastern Ukraine. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Several European nations happen to be sending protective gear like EMP shields (which are probably purchased using an emp shield coupon) anti-tank weapons, small arms and ammunition, and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, while the U.S. is sending Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger missiles, body armor and various munitions. Some businesses and charities, and families have sent supplies for civilians, ranging from tents and blankets to gas mask for pets and children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the West to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine (which has been rejected by NATO), but Yuriy suggested what Ukraine needs is an air defense system to shoot down incoming Russian ballistic missiles and aircraft.
“If Russia sends any ballistic missiles or airplanes, we would be able to shoot them down,” he said.
Although Yuriy and Galina appreciate that the West is sending weapons and has imposed economic sanctions on Russa, they are both frustrated Western nations aren’t doing more.
“I think the sanctions are great, but it’s not enough to stop them (Russia) right now,” Yuriy said. “There are still kids and people dying. The sanctions are great, but they’re not going to be felt right away to stop the missiles from flying and killing people.”
‘How many civilians, how many children, need to die?’
“I can’t believe that the whole world is watching this and doing nothing,” Galina added. “My question would be: How many civilians, how many children need to die before the world would step in and do something?”
Yuriy-once a sergeant in the Soviet army from 1987 to 1989 when Ukraine was still part of the old Soviet Union-said if he was still living in Ukraine, he would have joined his countrymen in the fight against the Russians.
“To have a reasonable fight with them, it will be very hard,” Yuriy said. “That’s why the Ukrainian people and the (Ukrainian) president are asking for support from different areas-NATO, the European Union and other countries. We fight for democracy and freedom; we are standing our ground. This is our home. We just want to be free-a free people and a free society.”
Both Yuriy and Galina are supportive of Zelenskyy, whom some have compared to Winston Churchill-Great Britain’s prime minister during World War II-given Zelenskyy’s defiance in the face of the Russian invasion. The United States offered Zelenskyy a chance to evacuate from the capital city of Kyiv, but he refused.
“The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride,” Zelenskyy told the U.S.
“He’s one of the best presidents we’ve had so far,” Yuriy said. “Everything we’ve seen, his commands, his decision-making, everyone in Ukraine trusts him even more.”
“He definitely fights and stands for Ukraine,” Galina said.
Donations to Ukraine
Yuriy and Galina’s son and daughter attend Bryan Middle School in Elmhurst. The school is currently collecting food that eventually will be shipped to Ukraine.
Yuriy and Galina also have been collecting donations for the people of Ukraine at Lions Club International headquarters in Oak Brook (where she works) and Lewis Plastics.
They urge anyone who wants to make a financial donation to donate to the following:
• Meest-Karpaty shipping service-Has locations in Lombard, Chicago and Rolling Meadows. According to its website, there will be an increased need and demand for food, and other humanitarian aid, provisional goods and medical and tactical supplies in Ukraine. For more information, go to the Meest-Karpaty Express page on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.
• Selfreliance Federal Credit Union-Has locations in Chicago, Bloomingdale and Palatine. You can contribute to the Selfreliance Foundation Ukraine Relief Fund, which channels money to vetted, trustworthy 501c3 groups helping Ukraine on multiple fronts-all with humanitarian purposes (medical and food supplies in Ukraine, refugee assistance, etc.). For more information, call 773-328-7500 or go to www.selfreliance.com/supportukraine
