Brownstein: Family lines blur for Montreal Ukrainian-Russian couple

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As analogies go, it’s a bit on the market. However one native cynic suggests the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine makes about as a lot sense as Newfoundland making an attempt to grab management of Prince Edward Island merely for self-importance functions.

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He factors out that the individuals of the 2 provinces are sometimes indistinguishable from one another of their views, share related pursuits, have households within the different province and may simply converse with each other.

Valeriya Smulska and husband Viktor Shlenchak can virtually relate. Smulska, who works in human sources at Radio-Canada, is half Russian, half Ukrainian. Shlenchak, an engineer, is Ukrainian. They communicate Russian at their Longueuil residence, which poses no drawback for Shlenchak’s mom, who got here from Ukraine within the fall to help the couple in taking good care of their new child baby.

The strains can get actually blurred.

“It’s loopy as a result of our two peoples have a lot extra in frequent than they’ve variations,” says Shlenchak, who moved right here 18 years in the past. “Our household has households in each nations. There are often no points between us.”

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Smulska notes that her Russian mom, who lives in Ukraine, was making an attempt to inform relations in Russia about civilians being focused within the bombardment.

“Her household didn’t imagine it in any respect,” says Smulska, who arrived right here two years after her husband. “They had been telling my mom that it was all faux information, at the same time as my mom might hear the sounds of struggle exterior. They stated there was no struggle in any respect. The quantity of disinformation Russians are being fed is nuts.”

However Smulska believes that notion could also be altering, significantly amongst youthful Russians with web entry.

“I simply texted my cousin in Russia, assuming she would even have an identical notion about what’s going on in Ukraine. However she texted me again saying she doesn’t imagine what the federal government is saying anymore now and that different youthful Russians, who’re getting their information from different nations, are feeling the identical means.

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“After I learn this, I felt that possibly there was some hope.”

Shlenchak stays mystified as to what Russia may acquire from this incursion.

“Russia shouldn’t be going to profit from a state of affairs the place the entire world sees the large sufferings that Ukraine is present process now,” he says. “The ache Russia is imposing is completely pointless. We’re two nations who shared loads prior to now. We share related roots. However we now have gone in numerous instructions now. Ukraine needs to ascertain an actual and peaceable democracy. Russia, in all probability not a lot.”

Shlenchak is referring primarily to Russia’s powers that be.

“I think that the majority Russian individuals additionally wish to see Ukraine exist in peace. However I do not know why and the way the Russian authorities has managed to control the state of affairs, even with misinformation coming from the media there, making an attempt to inform its residents that Ukraine is a fascist nation of neo-Nazis. It’s completely ridiculous.

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“Sure, we’re two totally different nations with totally different goals, however we pose no menace.”

What Putin and his cronies didn’t appear to acknowledge about Ukrainians is their resolve, apparently figuring the Russian forces might simply march into the nation and take it over in a couple of days.

“I’m satisfied this has been an enormous miscalculation on the a part of Putin and the others,” Shlenchak says. “When the Russians went to annex Crimea, it was sudden and a shock to all. So there was no defence mounted. However Ukrainians had been residing below a relentless menace and weren’t caught a lot abruptly. (The Russians) hadn’t anticipated simply how united Ukrainians are and the way they’re able to defend their nation. Ukrainians gained’t again down. They gained’t give up.”

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Shlenchak hopes different nations within the area — like Lithuania and Estonia — gained’t be taken abruptly, both. “As a result of Putin gained’t cease at Ukraine. He needs to recreate the Soviet Union.”

“It’s so terrifying to see and listen to in regards to the devastation taking place at our colleges and hospitals,” Smulska provides.

This week, Shlenchak’s mom was speculated to fly again to Ukraine and Smulska’s mom was speculated to arrive from Ukraine. Plans are actually on maintain for each.

“We’re all residing in a state of shock right here, not figuring out from minute to minute what’s going to occur,” Smulska says. “It’s so heartbreaking.”

“A part of me continues to be feeling like I’m residing in a nightmare that I can’t get up from, making an attempt to understand how such atrocities are attainable on this planet as we speak,” Shlenchak says. “Why does Putin hate us a lot?”

bbrownstein@postmedia.com

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