The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has thanked Prime Minister Albanese for announcing additional sanctions against Russia, but has warned that this will not be enough to ‘slow Russia’s war machine’. “In the latest attack on Kyiv, Russia has used cruise missiles, drones and six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. This has followed mass attacks around the … [Read more...]

In 2006, a student at Chernivtsi University in south west Ukraine, Lesia Voroniuk, founded the first Vyshyvanka Day to preserve Ukrainian folk traditions of wearing embroidered clothing. Today, as Russia continues to wage its war on Ukraine, Vyshyvanka Day has become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian culture and the pride of its people in the beauty and antiquity of … [Read more...]

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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...]