By Kelly Malone

Increasing violence in Ukraine felt in Saskatoon

Feb 9, 2015 | 4:16 PM

The television has become too stressful to watch for Katya Khartova as reports from her home country of Ukraine show increasing violence everyday.

Khartova grew up in Ukraine and came to Canada almost seven years ago. She has a huge stake in the conflict because her mother is Ukrainian and her father is Russian.

“We could have been there still. My dad and my brother could have been killed by now, it could have been very much our reality,” she said. “Things are getting really, really scary.”

A powerful explosion rocked a chemical plant and set it on fire Monday outside the separatist stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, where fierce fighting has surged. The fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukraine government forces has killed more than 5,300 people since April and displaced more than one million people in eastern Ukraine.

“When they see those bloody videos that are full of pain and sorrow … that’s scary. It’s hopeless and you know it’s your home and it could have been you,” Khartova said, adding that Ukraine’s government is recruiting people, including her friends and family, into the army. 

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“They came to the point where they sent notices to job places, work places … People don’t know what they are fighting for. We don’t need (peace in the East) that way, we don’t need that price.”

Khartova said her father has just returned from Russia where he was visiting his ailing mother. Although Russian, he supports Ukraine’s claim over the east.

“I was like ‘dad, just try not to talk to anybody because you will get in a lot of trouble,’” Khartova said.
 
In Washington, President Barack Obama held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about reviving an elusive Ukraine peace plan before her meeting with Prime Minister Stephen in Ottawa Monday evening. Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are getting ready to meet Wednesday with their counterparts from Russia and Ukraine to ideally find a diplomatic resolution to the continued fighting.

In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers decided to hold off for now on expanding sanctions against Russia and the separatists so as to await developments from the peace talks. The need for more sanctions will be re-assessed next Monday.

Khartova said she doesn’t want to see anymore violence, but is losing hope about what talks could accomplish.

“I don’t support the Ukrainian government. I used to but not anymore. They talk a lot but not any action,” she said.

“That’s all my brain is occupied with is the thoughts of what I can do, what I can contribute, that fear that my family could still be there. A lot of my friends are still there, of course I’m worried for them. I’m worried for my friends’ husbands , sons, parents.”

Khartova said the Saskatoon Ukrainian community is organizing a fundraiser for Feb. 28 at the Third Avenue United Church with singing, dancing, and perogies. Money raised will go to help people displaced and on the front lines in their home country.

Feb. 22 marks one year since the Ukrainian parliament voted to remove former president Viktor Yanukovych from his post and two days later issued a warrant for his arrest for allegedly killing civilians.

-With files from the Canadian Press

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