The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) and the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria (AUV) are deeply saddened that another brave Australian man has been killed defending Ukraine from the Russian invasion - Victorian man Sage O’Donnell. The AFUO and AUV are touched by the words of Mr O’Donnell’s mother, who has stated that: “Sage died in action … [Read more...]

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has welcomed the decision by the United States to provide billions more in military aid to Ukraine, including the advanced Patriot missile-defence system, and called on the Australian Government to also consider  increasing its military aid to Ukraine. Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM, AFUO Co-Chair said today “President Joe … [Read more...]

Ukrainians and the Ukrainian-Australian community are very grateful to the people of NSW for showing their support for Ukraine by turning off the lights of Sydney’s major icons. In solidarity with millions of Ukrainians forced into darkness by missile attacks on their cities, the City of Sydney Council and the NSW Government intentionally switched off their lights on … [Read more...]

In an act of Christmas generosity and compassion, Victoria Police sent a very special St Nicholas in his police vehicle to the Ukrainian Community Centre in Melbourne today to distribute toys to displaced children from Ukraine. Collected via a VicPol toy drive, the event is another expression of Australian support for displaced Ukrainians, mostly mothers and their children, … [Read more...]

The first four notes are instantly recognisable - but few would know the ‘Carol of the Bells’ is based on an ancient Ukrainian New Year’s folk chant ‘Shchedryk’, which tells the story of a swallow flying into a house to proclaim a bountiful year. Today, Christmas is almost unimaginable without ‘Carol of the Bells’. Performed around the world and featured in movies and TV … [Read more...]

UKR DNA, an art exhibition of the striking work of Melbourne-based architect of Ukrainian heritage, Maru Jarockyj, has officially opened and already been seen by hundreds of visitors. The exhibition was opened on Thursday 8 December by Councillor Dr Olivia Ball, City of Melbourne, Bwe Thay, Deputy Chair Victorian Multicultural Commission, Volodymyr Shalkivskiy - Deputy Head of … [Read more...]

AFUO Board Member, Ms Chrestyna Kmetj, has made an impassioned plea at the FINA Extraordinary General Congress this week on behalf of the Ukrainian Swimming Federation competing in Melbourne, stressing that sanctions must continue on russian and Belorussian athletes as long as russia wages its war on Ukraine, and that Ukrainian athletes must receive support to train and … [Read more...]

The NSW Government has provided $500,000 to the Ukrainian community of New South Wales to support those who have sought safe haven in the state, following the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the funding had been allocated to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) to support its work in aiding the more … [Read more...]

Almost 200 displaced Ukrainian children and their parents/carers experienced precious Christmas cheer on Saturday at a Christmas feast day hosted by the Ukrainian Council of NSW (UCNSW) at the Ukrainian Youth Centre in Lidcombe. The children and parents/carers viewed a traditional Ukrainian Christmas performance, ate Ukrainian food including holubtsi (savoury rice wrapped in … [Read more...]

Supplies of critically needed fire and rescue clothing, rescue gear, thermal imaging camera, medical donations and defibrillators have again been successfully delivered to Europe from Australia by the AFUO’s International Coordination of Medical Aid for Ukraine sub-committee (ICMAU). Working with the Australian Defence Force, 61 pallets of donated goods from Australian … [Read more...]