The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) is calling on the Australian Government to urgently increase support for Ukraine, warning that recent international developments risk rewarding Russian aggression and abandoning core principles of sovereignty.
“Over 150 civilians have been killed across Ukraine this month. In the early hours of Thursday, a wave of missiles rained down on Kyiv and several other cities, killing 12 — including three children — and injuring more than 90. Among the dead are a brother and sister born in 2003 and 2005. Their lives, like those of so many others, were full of plans and dreams — cut short by Russia. It was one of the worst single-day assaults on the capital in more than a year,” said Kateryna Argyrou, Chair of the AFUO.
“These are not accidents or battlefield tragedies — this is state terrorism, and it is happening every single day. Sirens at dawn. Debris in the streets. Families torn apart in an instant. We are witnessing a campaign of terror that has only intensified under President Trump’s months-long policy of appeasement and propaganda.”
“Putin continues his effort to extinguish Ukraine — enabled by a complacent US administration that is willing to blame Kyiv for Putin’s actions. Ukraine is not the problem. Russia is. No country should be asked to trade its land and people for the illusion of peace. Not with Putin in power. Not after everything we’ve seen,” said Ms Argyrou.
“I returned from Ukraine this week. I felt Russia’s terror firsthand — every day of my visit. The destruction is staggering. People are exhausted, but they are resolute. This is an existential fight. Ukrainians will not back down.
“Australia has stood by Ukraine, and we are grateful. But this is a turning point. What’s being proposed is not peace — it’s surrender. If we don’t push back now, we will all pay the price later,” said Ms Argyrou.
There is so much more the Australian Government can do. Military and humanitarian aid must be increased without delay. The Abrams tanks promised in September should not be still sitting at sites around Australia, they should be on a ship. Russian oil must not be sold in Australian bowsers. Sanctions must be strengthened. We have the tools — we just need action,” Ms Argyrou concluded.
