Our #FreeTheHawkei campaign continues. As politicians arrived in Canberra on Sunday 7 May and Monday 8 May, they were greeted by an enormous billboard just outside Canberra Airport. On the billboard, the vibrant colours of the Ukrainian flag unfurl behind a young girl holding a #FreeTheHawkei poster. Corflutes in the ground with our #FreeTheHawkei campaign slogan lined … [Read more...]

The appearance of men wearing t-shirts with the Z symbol at a performance of the Russian Orthodox Male Choir at the Sydney Town Hall on 28 April 2023 was sickening. One man was photographed shaking hands with the Russian Consul General Igor Arzhaev. The neo-fascist, pro-war Russian Z symbol – a symbol of hate, aggression and genocide - has no place in Australia. Thank you … [Read more...]

The Ukrainian-Australian community held rallies around Australia on 29 April to ask the Australian Government to continue its support for Ukraine and to #FreeTheHawkei - a next-generation protected vehicle made in the same Bendigo facility as the famous Bushmaster vehicles, which have achieved cult status in Ukraine. In a nod to the Hawkei — named after a death adder snake … [Read more...]

A powerful story by Ukrainian-Australian, Pete Shmigel, about Valeria ‘Lera’ Stepanenko and her partner Victorian man, Sage O’Donnell, who was killed late last year defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion, has been published in the Kyiv Post. Sage is one of the seven Australians and New Zealanders who have died while serving with Ukrainian forces. Before his final … [Read more...]

The AFUO asked a team from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence to help get Julian Knysh, our very own Ukrainian-Australian documentary film-maker, to the front lines. We wanted to get some footage of the Bushmasters in action, show Australians how grateful we are for Australia’s military aid, and explain to Ukrainian soldiers the importance of the Australian ANZAC … [Read more...]

Thank you to the National Rugby League (NRL) for honouring the Ukrainian warrior spirit as part of the ANZAC Round.  The Ukrainian Council of NSW (UCNSW) partnered with the NRL to host a day of activities for displaced Ukrainian children and their Australian-Ukrainian friends. The day featured a rugby league coaching clinic, Accor Stadium tour, BBQ, followed by a Last … [Read more...]

An exhibition by Walkley Award winning photojournalist Gary Ramage documenting the destruction, pain and suffering caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine will be on display at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum in Melbourne throughout May. In 2022 Gary, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and served with the Australian Army for 20 years, … [Read more...]

Australian-Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Christians will celebrate the joy of Easter this weekend, but with the suffering of their homeland never far from their minds. Many will attend church services on the evening of Saturday, 15 April and morning of Sunday 16 April, and bring with them Easter baskets to be blessed, an ancient tradition imbued with rich symbolism. … [Read more...]

Horrific videos circulating online showing the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, and mutilated bodies of other Ukrainian prisoners of war, have confirmed the importance of Australia accepting an invitation to attend the July NATO summit and doing all it can with like-minded countries to defeat Russian terrorism and barbarism. “We understand that the PM Anthony … [Read more...]

The AFUO has backed calls for the PM Anthony Albanese to attend the upcoming NATO summit, saying Australia can continue to play a meaningful role in protecting democracy and restoring peace by helping Ukraine to achieve victory and the rebuilding of its country after Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion.  Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM and Ms Kateryna Argyrou, AFUO Co-Chairs, … [Read more...]