Protesters from the Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA) gathered at Umhlanga’s Whalebone Pier on Ukraine’s Independence Day to protest Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Independence Day, around 35 people gathered at the Whalebone Pier in Umhlanga, Durban, to protest against Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Organised by the Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA), and joined by members of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, the demonstrators sought to raise awareness about the plight of Ukrainian children forcefully removed to Russia.
Addressing the crowd, UAZA’s Katya Fedkina, said, “Thirty-four years ago, on this day, Ukrainians regained their freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and democracy. Eleven years ago, in February 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and continues its aggression, aiming to destroy the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian identity.”
According to the Ukrainian government, around 20,000 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported to Russian territory and forced to become its citizens.
Protestors marched down the promenade holding Ukrainian flags and signs that read: “#BringKidsBackUA- 20,000 children stolen” and “#StandWithUkraine”.
Fedkina urged South Africans to support the return of deported Ukrainian children, cut economic ties with Russia, uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and push for the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Fedkina said UAZA expresses its gratitude to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his support to end the conflict, adding that in June 2023, Ramaphosa called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to return over 19,500 Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia.
Devin Moodley, who attended the protest with his Ukrainian wife, told GroundUp that he hopes that the South African government will offer more support to Ukrainians. He said it was still very difficult for displaced Ukrainians to get visas to come to South Africa. He had struggled to get permission for his wife’s family members to visit, he said.
Children abducted
According to a report released earlier this year by the Bring Back Kids UA, a humanitarian program created by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia uses tactics such as adoption to keep deported Ukrainian children from returning home.
Earlier this year, a joint statement was drafted by the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The statement called on Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children. It was signed by eight countries, the Council of Europe, and the European Union.
Protests were also held by UAZA in Johannesburg and Cape Town on the weekend.
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