Let Ukraine strike back: Ukrainians in Australia to rally this weekend

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has announced a series of protests demanding that the Australian government allow Ukraine to defend itself by striking deep into Russia with Western weapons. The rallies are scheduled for September 7-8 in Sydney, Canberra, and Hobart.

“Lifting the restrictions is essential to help Ukraine defend itself and protect its people, cities, and towns from relentless Russian missile attacks which seek to traumatise, terrorise and kill civilians going about their daily lives,” said the AFUO.

The AFUO reminded that this week Russia killed more than fifty people, attacking Lviv, Poltava, Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Lutsk, and Rivne. “Heartbreakingly, in Lviv, the whole family of Yaroslav Bazylevych was killed – his wife Evhenia (43) and three daughters Emilia (7), Daryna (18) and Yaryna (21),” the AFUO wrote.

“We call on the Australian Government to help Ukraine close its skies, resist terror and protect its people. Let Ukraine properly defend itself. We should not allow Russian missile launch sites to have greater protection than Ukrainian civilians. Australia can play an important role in helping Ukraine to bring these horrific, unspeakably cruel missile attacks to an end. Otherwise, we continue to expose Ukraine’s children to daily Russian rocket and missile attacks,” emphasized Kateryna Argyrou, AFUO Co-Chair and a member of the UWC Board of Directors.

In Sydney, the rally will take place on Sunday, September 8, at 13:00 local time near Sydney Town Hall steps. In Canberra, it will be on Saturday, September 7, at 10:00 local time near the Russian Embassy. In Hobart, it will be on Saturday, September 7, at 10:00 AM local time near the Parliament Lawns.