Ukrainians and Russians alike hold protests in Seoul against war

Diplomacy

Published: 07 Mar. 2022, 18:32 Updated: 07 Mar. 2022, 19:18

Ukrainians and Russians alike hold protests in Seoul against war

Ukrainian residents of Korea protest Russia's invasion of their country near the Russian Embassy in Jung District, central Seoul, on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Ukrainian residents of Korea led an anti-war protest in front of the Russian Embassy and other locations in downtown Seoul on Sunday, drawing attention to their nation's plight as the invasion of the Eastern European country entered its 11th day.

One of the demonstrators, who wished to be known only as Anna, read aloud from a letter written sent by her friend Kateryna Sakhno, who fled Kyiv to the western city of Khmelnytskyi ahead of the Russian military’s advance on the Ukrainian capital.

“Today, March 1, is the first day of spring all around the world, but for us Ukrainians it marks the sixth day of war,” Katerina wrote in her letter. “My 2-year-old daughter Alisa now wakes up every night screaming, ‘Bullets! There are bullets everywhere!’

“We live in terror because of the sound of gunfire everywhere,” Kateryna continued. “Ukraine barely hangs on, minute by minute.”

As Anna read from Kateryna’s letter, sobs could be heard among the crowd gathered in front of the Russian Embassy. The rally was attended by 200 Ukrainian residents in Korea, as well as Koreans and people of other nationalities opposing the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian attendees at the rally expressed their fear and sense of helplessness regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in their country.

“My friends who have stayed in Ukraine have taken up arms to fight. My aunt and uncle are trapped in a city that has fallen under Russian control,” said one male protester named Oleksii, who has resided in Korea since 2014. “My heart is breaking. I can’t eat or sleep. I don’t know what more I can do.”

Expressing concern for her parents who are still in Ukraine, Anna said, “When they don’t respond to my messages quickly, I am filled with fear. I don’t understand why we Ukrainians, who live peacefully, are caught up in this war.”

Another demonstrator named Polina, whose hometown is war-ravaged Kharkiv, urged the attendees to boycott Russia. "Russia is bombing Ukraine on the pretext it needs to protect Ukrainians from their ‘evil government.’ I ask all of you to boycott all Russian products, events, sports, culture and products."

Ukrainians were not the only ones to organize a protest against the invasion.

In downtown Seoul, in front of the Bosingak Belfry, a group of 30 Russian residents of Korea gathered for a protest at 3 p.m. to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering troops into Ukraine.

Holding anti-war placards and modified Russian flags with the bottom red band removed, they chanted, “Hands off Ukraine, Putin!” and “Putin is a murderer!”

Twenty-six-year-old Russian Anastasiia Mikhailova, who participated in the afternoon rally holding a sunflower — the national flower of Ukraine — said, “I oppose Putin and his government,” adding, “There are many people in Russia who oppose Putin in Russia.”

Mikhailova continued, “My great-grandfather is Ukrainian, and so I’m also part Ukrainian. I will never accept this war. I hope Putin is removed from office.”

There are currently 3,843 Ukrainians on short- and long-term visas in Korea.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]