The fears of the Ukrainians living in Upper Austria for their relatives and friends are increasing day by day. 900 people protested in Linz on Saturday against the war in their homeland.
Worry, frustration and sadness, disappointment, despair and anger. If you look at the faces of Ukrainians in this country at the moment, you can see a whole hodgepodge of emotions in them. One looks in vain for happiness, well-being and joy.Concentration is difficultThe fear for the relatives who remained at home has determined the majority of her thinking since Thursday. “I have an exam at the university on Tuesday, but I can’t concentrate and I can’t study,” says Lidiia Zharikova, who studies technical mathematics in Linz. Her parents live in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, just 50 kilometers from the Russian border. This city has been bombed by the Russians since Friday, the mayor appealed to the population to seek shelter in bunkers and cellars EU sanctions against Putin and his vassals took to the streets. Most of the Ukrainians have hardly slept since Thursday, the shock of the war horrors at home is deep in their bones.Appeal for solidarity “It hurts so much what is happening there. It’s a crime against humanity and it tears your heart apart,” says pianist Oksana Kuzo (36). All democratically minded people should now stick together: “We need the help of the whole world, please help us to fight evil!” Stopping PutinAll the demonstrators have the desire to live in peace again. “We are not just defending Ukraine, but European values against autocratism and totalitarianism,” emphasizes art teacher Denys Savchenko (47). Vladimir Putin must be stopped urgently. “Terrible things are happening,” warns Katharina Bauer (52), from the “Heart for Ukraine” association.
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