The collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has unleashed a tsunami of water, sparking fears of an ecological catastrophe
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When her hometown of Kherson was liberated by Ukrainian troops final November, Anastasiia Haiduchenko was jubilant.
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However the lady, who fled the Russian occupation of the southern Ukrainian metropolis final spring and got here to Calgary, mentioned a tsunami of water triggered by the collapse of a dam in her husband’s hometown Nova Kakhovka has revived fears for the protection of relations and others who should overcome the brand new menace.
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“I am slightly overwhelmed with all these feelings,” Haiduchenko mentioned.
After talking on the cellphone together with her mother and father in Kherson, who’re going through rising flood waters, on Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, the 24-year-old mentioned the relations seemed to be secure for now.
“Individuals have been evacuated to the secure a part of town, however I am undecided what’s subsequent – (Wednesday) would be the worst state of affairs (for flooding),” she mentioned.
“We’re not simply fearful, we’re terrified.”
Extra critically, her in-laws stay within the Russian-occupied city the place the dam is positioned, a construction that collapsed on Monday in what many imagine is a calculated act by the Kremlin’s troops to thwart a Ukrainian offensive on the southern entrance. his path blocked by floods.
“At first (my in-laws) couldn’t imagine that the Russians had destroyed the dam,” mentioned an emotional Haiduchenko.
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“My husband spoke to his grandmother, she mentioned that individuals are attempting to evacuate themselves, however not less than there is no such thing as a extra water coming. The water went down the river to Kherson and different small cities.”
She famous Russian forces on the jap financial institution of the Dnipro River, which have been shelling Kherson with lethal impact since November, continued to shell the realm whilst refugees from the dam breach sought security.
“They’re shelling Kherson at this second . . . they’re in the midst of homicide on prime of homicide,” Haiduchenko mentioned.
“I’ll by no means forgive or overlook – Russia is a terrorist state and I wish to hear this from the remainder of the world.”
She mentioned scenes of struggling because the Russians refused to assist evacuate flood victims prompted her to handle a rally Tuesday evening at Memorial Drive and tenth Road NW that drew greater than 100 individuals, lots of them the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag waving.
She additionally raised cash to assist her homeland whereas aiding the most recent flood victims via efforts on-line and thru contact with lifelong associates in Kherson who volunteered to help refugees and their pets.
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“WI am searching for some locations to resettle individuals, and looking for extra shelters,” Haiduchenko mentioned, including the welfare of refugees is a precedence.
“I am not fascinated about pushing the Russians away now.”
Organizers of Tuesday evening’s Calgary demonstration echoed the lady’s phrases about holding Russia accountable for his or her atrocities in Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian neighborhood of Calgary echoes the general public assertion of Alexandra Chyczij, Nationwide President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, calling on Canada and our allies to designate the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terrorism and implement sanctions that might will disable the Russian struggle machine as soon as and for all,” a press release mentioned.
Final month, Haiduchenko mentioned her mother and father have been contemplating shifting to safer areas in western Ukraine after a Russian artillery bombardment killed about two dozen individuals in Kherson, 4 of whom died whereas searching for groceries.
“A grocery retailer was hit close to our home. . . some (of the victims) lived in our neighborhood,” she mentioned.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
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