“Harrowing”: Geelong residents fear for family in Ukraine

IT’S been nine years since Geelong’s Paul Kaminskyj had his then 14-year-old Ukrainian cousin Oleg come and live with him.

Now communication between the two is via guarded WhatsApp messages for fear of having their conversations intercepted by Russia authorities.

‘Ollie’, as Paul and his partner Casey call him, is back home in Ukraine and at 23 years of age has just been enlisted to fight against Russia’s invading forces.

Earlier this week he, his father, and father-in-law, attended their local town hall in Bila Tserkva – around 80 kilometres from the Ukraine capital Kyiv – where each was given a uniform and rifle, along with a quick briefing on how to use it.

“Ollie has no formal military training,” Paul said.

“He recently called us from his car and we were like, wow you’re driving! He laughed and said ‘of course, I’m not a boy anymore’, but in our heads, he is,” Casey said.

Ollie’s last message contained the news that his father was due to be posted to the front line, but didn’t say where that might be.

“They’re very cautious on info they share with anyone, over concerns of Russian intercepts that can geo tag them,” Paul said.

“We’re trying not to think about it, it’s heartbreaking enough to think about what’s happening there right now.

“He’s accepted that he is likely to be called up, gives you a real appreciation of their willingness to sacrifice themselves for their land.

“This is not the Ukraine of 2014, we are ready, we are together, we are proud,” Ollie told Paul when the pair were last able to speak on the phone.

Casey says Ollie is referring to a nation that has been galvanised since 2014, when Russian forces invaded Crimea to the south of Ukraine.

“We’ve relayed everything that the Australian government is doing, like sending aid, the humanitarian aspect, visas, they’re grateful for all that but right now it’s survival mode,” Paul said.

“All of them emphasise the impact of the support they are getting from the world and it’s giving them that extra lift.”

Casey and Paul travelled to Melbourne last Sunday where they took part in a rally to show solidarity for Ukrainians against Russian aggression.

“I know it doesn’t make a difference but, putting a flag up, going to a rally, they all add up to mean so much to the family and soldiers there … we’re sending those images back to Ukraine,” Casey said.

The last time Paul and Casey saw Ollie in person was when they travelled back to Ukraine with him after his six-month stay in Australia.

“Ollie was what they call a post-Chernobyl kid, poor health, but he put on eight kilos here, learnt to surf, got a tan, and got to know the Geelong community,” Casey said.

“I have a brother who turns 18 in two months’ time, you can’t help but reflect on how lucky we are here.

“The thought that Ollie could be called up this week is harrowing, I know he’s a man now … but we still see him as that 14-year-old who stayed with us.”