Journalist, political scientist, and Director of the Eurasian Democracy Initiative, Donetsk-born Peter Zalmayev joins AFUO for an exclusive interview while in Australia on his world tour.  Zalmayev’s world tour to the ‘global south’ (around 30 African and Oceanic countries) has a “two-pronged purpose: to gain a ground-level insight on the sympathies and actions of … [Read more...]

UNESCO officially recognises the Ukrainian kobza and wheel lyre tradition and the pysanka (traditional wax-painted Ukrainian Easter egg) as part of the world’s cultural heritage! 🐣 Pysanky - the intricate art of decorating eggs has been cherished in Ukraine for centuries. Using wax and dye, each egg becomes a canvas for patterns and symbols that carry personal … [Read more...]

At Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican at 4:00pm (Rome time) on Saturday 7 December 2024 (2:00am AEDT Sunday 8 December), His Grace Bishop Mykola Bychok, Eparch of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, will be elevated to the dignity of Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church by His Holiness Pope … [Read more...]

Today we acknowledge the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The AFUO extends its deepest gratitude to the brave defenders of Ukraine - protectors of freedom, democracy and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Across Ukraine, these brave men and women have defended our peaceful cities and villages; liberated areas brutally occupied by russian aggressors; and fought bravely on … [Read more...]

On 25 November, the AFUO and Yury Sak, Adviser to the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, held meetings with key Members of Parliament (MPs) and their advisers at Parliament House in Canberra. The meetings were held in tandem with Ukrainian Christmas carolling in Parliament House and were an opportunity to thank MPs for their support of Ukraine. MPs were presented … [Read more...]

In mid November 2024, AFUO Co-Chair, Kateryna Argyrou, conducted high-level meetings and on the ground check-ins to survey the current situation, capabilities and feelings in Ukraine. Kateryna met with representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv State Administration, the Kyiv Institute of Rehabilitation … [Read more...]

In a special fundraising solo world tour ‘Help For Ukraine’, Slava Vakarchuk, Okean Elzy front man, visited Australia and sent warm wishes to Ukrainian defenders, alongside AFUO leadership & the Ukrainian-Australian diaspora! “I personally want to say that here in Australia, thousands of kilometres from Ukraine, people are thinking about us, they are helping, and are … [Read more...]

Earlier this week, members of the Ukrainian-Australian community performed traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols for an appreciative audience at Parliament House. For the first time ever, the sound of Ukrainian Christmas carols such as the Ukrainian “Carol of the Bells” (“Shchedryk“ or “Щедрик”) and “Good Evening to You” (“Добрий вечір тобі”) filled the halls of Parliament … [Read more...]

M1A1 Abrams tanks, destined for Ukraine, were paraded for the last time in Adelaide last week, with guests of honour including Frank Fursenko, President of the Association of Ukrainians in SA (AUSA) and Rev Father Evhen Kvasniuk. With a sizable crowd of 1,500 attendees, the RAAF Edinburgh Air Base celebrated the Cambrai Day Parade on Friday 22nd November to mark the 75th … [Read more...]

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations extends our sincere gratitude to everyone who commemorated and spread awareness about the Great Ukrainian Famine - the Holodomor - on Holodomor Memorial Day on 23 November. The Ukrainian-Australian diaspora and supporters gathered in major cities around the country and internationally to solemnly mark 91 years … [Read more...]