The Greek community in Australia is expressing grave concerns for the lives of the Greek minority in Ukraine, offering support, as the war unfolds rapidly in the country, following the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch a full-scale military attack on Ukraine, Thursday morning, local time.
Hundreds of casualties have been reported so far after roughly 100 Russian missiles from both land and sea were launched into Ukraine, with the Russian forces seizing control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, amongst other key positions.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent people impacted, along with the 150,000 of Greeks living in the country.
Marioupol, a city with 120,000 Greek expats, is one of the biggest Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, and invading it would help Russia secure a direct land route to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
Greek government plans to evacuate Greek expats from the region
“An evacuation plan has been drawn up for Greek citizens, as well as for holders of the special identity card for expatriates,” Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in a statement after a crisis management meeting on the developments in Ukraine.
He explained that there are many Greeks scrambling to flee the city, who have contacted the authorities for assistance.
Mr. Dendias also announced that a Special Unit has been activated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance to both Greek citizens and their relatives.
Addressing Greeks still in Ukraine, he urged them to be in constant contact with the Greek diplomatic authorities and to avoid unnecessary travel, assuring them that the Foreign Ministry would do everything in their power to support them. A small group of 100 people is due to be evacuated from Mariupol, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andreas Katsaniotis.
As the conflict escalates, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed in a post, her support for the Greek communities in Ukraine, stating that “our thoughts turn to the Greek communities of Azov, all those towns and villages where our language is still heard, the schools where lessons are held under the Greek flag, and expatriates of all ages, keep the bond with their Greek roots alive.” She added how deeply she is moved by the perseverance of the Greek people in the area, who have lived there for a thousand years, from the Byzantine times to this day. “We honour their courage, we support them and stand by them.”
The world stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine
Anti-war demonstrations have broken out in multiple countries, as images of the devastating human cost of war are shared across the world. Reports and images show battered Ukranian cities, injured civilians, families sleeping in shelters underground, and thousands of cars choking the main roads in Kiev as terrified residents attempt to flee.
Australia, the UK, Italy, Germany and France have seen demonstrations outside of their respective Russian embassies, while people have also taken to the streets in Japan, Turkey, Montenegro, Lebanon amongst other cities, and even across Russia, where people are risking their freedom to protest against their country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The U.N. refugee agency said an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians had fled their homes, and thousands were crossing into neighbouring countries, including Romania, Moldova, Poland and Hungary.
Amongst the many organisations standing by the people of Ukraine, The Australian Federation of Pontian Associations sent Neos Kosmos, a declaration of their support towards Ukraine and their Greek brothers and sisters who are fearing for their lives.
“With a heavy heart and with feelings of solidarity towards the Greeks of Ukraine, we express our sincere support to all Greeks who are living under terror and fear.
Ukraine, a philhellenic country, had welcomed thousands of Greek Pontians when they were uprooted by the Kemalists. It is here that the Society of Friends (Filiki Eteria) was founded in 1814, to help spark the Greek revolution.
We appeal for the powerful support of all European countries to assist in finding a just solution in order to avoid a fatal conflict between Europeans and Russia. A war in the present era is dangerous and destructive. It brings about maximum and incalculable climatic, agronomic, ecological and economic disasters, the loss of hundreds of thousands of people and, in addition, the multiplication of new epidemics.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the media on Friday that “we continue to be extremely concerned with the terrible violence we have seen inflicted on the people of Ukraine by Russia, unwarranted, unprovoked,” Mr Morrison said and added that Australia will be imposing further sanctions.
“We have already announced two rounds of sanctions targeting individuals, banks and companies and we have also seen overnight the latest measures announced by our key partners, including the United States and the United Kingdom as well as strong statements from Japan and South Korea.”
European Union leaders have also agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia’s financial, energy and transport sectors and will impose export controls, as well as blacklisting more Russians over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
