Ukrainians to mark fourth Independence Day in Ireland

RTÉ News​

2 days ago

This month marks 34 years since Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union, with those from the country due to mark their fourth Independence Day in Ireland as its future is again the focus of high stakes discussions.
Rehearsals were held at the Digital Hub in the Liberties ahead of next weekend's Pulse of Freedom Festival on 24 August - Ukraine's Independence Day.
Close to 80,000 Ukrainians are living in Ireland following Russia's launch of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Many people at the event were feeling apprehensive that their country's future is again the focus of significant discussions on the world stage.
Michael Baskin, CEO of the Ukrainian Crisis Centre in Ireland (UCCI), said: "This is the main key event in the Ukrainian calendar now.
"We all know that's important because we fight for independence every day."
"We do understand how important the talks between the two presidents, President Trump and President Zelensky," Mr Baskin said.
"The latest news that the EU leaders will join the talks will probably make them more constructive," he added.
However he said that Ukrainians "are concerned", adding "Ukrainians put a lot of effort, a lot of time and lost a lot of lives".
Oleksandra Havrylenko, from Co Wicklow, said she finds it very difficult to watch all the political machinations when it comes to her country's future.
"This is our fourth Independence Day in Ireland and nobody could expect that we would spend so many days and years," she said.
"I just hope, and I highly believe that crossing fingers, something better will happen for our country and it will stop the war," she added.
Nina Dinaieva, a board member with UCCI, said it "difficult".
"Personally, for me because my husband is there in Ukraine, so we meet each other not really often," she said.
Ms Dinaieva said she had never planned or wanted to live abroad and had been reluctant to leave Kyiv when the war broke out.
"I'm here to protect myself and protect my son," she said.
She added: "I think that we don't have to be sad and just sit and cry in the corner.
"We have to do everything to help our country and to have a place to come back."
Musician and conductor Victoria Zhadko is originally from Kyiv but was in the southern city of Mykolaiv preparing for a concert when the war broke out.
Now three-and-a-half years later she is living in Ireland and preparing for musical events to celebrate Ukrainian culture in Ennis, Co Clare, and Dublin.
She said that whilst Ukrainians cannot control what happens on the world stage, sharing and celebrating their culture is now more important than ever.
She described the summit between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the US President Donald Trump as an "empty conference".
"It's nothing new for us," she added.
Ms Zhadko said most Ukrainians were not counting on a miracle and instead understood that they must be strong by themselves.
Of her fellow musicians and conductors who stayed behind, she said one of the biggest surprises had been that concert halls across Ukraine are now full, whilst shelters have also been adapted to hold musical and cultural events.
"They feel they are necessary," she said, adding people feel the events bring "something positive" and "some meaning they are saving the lives of the people".
"The mental health, the psychological health and this is important," she added.
She said: "The best thing we can do is what Irish people have had to do - is to construct our better future, our better society - today and here without counting on any help.
"So what we are glad and happy to feel and to understand is that Irish society, as nobody else, understands our situation the best."
She said three-and-a-half years on, this support was still felt.