Russia has declared war on Ukraine. The Russian army is conducting military operations against the Ukrainian people, targeting several Ukrainian cities and town. There are reports of explosions in the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and others.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian people will resist and will fight for their freedom until the day that the Russian enemy is expelled from their land. The governments of the Free World state that they Stand with Ukraine. They must do so now in deed, not in word.
All efforts must be marshalled in the coming days in support of the Ukrainian peoples’ right to statehood and self-determination. Putin and his criminal regime will meet the end that awaits all tyrants and despots.
May God protect Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
Glory to Ukraine. Glory to Her Heroes.
Слава Україні! Героям Слава!
– The Ukrainian Canadian Congress
Below you can find:
1. Support for Ukrainian International Students
2. Post-Secondary support
3. The sample letter to your local MP
4. Organizations to support/donate to
Post-secondary institutions must ensure they stand and act in solidarity with the Ukrainains and the international community in condemning this senseless and brutal attack on the principles of sovereignty, democracy, and humanity.We request that Ukrainian international students from Ukraine be granted the opportunity to pay “domestic” fees rather than “international” tuition fees, regardless if they are granted refugee status from the Government of Canada.
This is due to several factors, including the lack of access to monetary funds and the drops in currency. International Ukrainian students studying in Canada must be able to continue their studies in the coming semesters and by offering them domestic tuition, along with emergency bursaries and assistance, they will be able to do so. We encourage post-secondary institutions to consider how other Central and Eastern European students are impacted as well and extend their support.
Students are highly motivated to continue and complete their education, their studies should not be put at risk or sacrificed due to aggression and war in their home country.Institutions must provide clear steps for the streamlined acceptance and admittance of Ukrainian students and scholars.
There must be frameworks set in place and publicly communicated to ensure that students and scholars who are displaced and seek to continue their education in Canada may do so. Tuition, living, and relief assistance are all factors that should be considered.
SUSK has put together a spreadsheet of resources available for International Ukrainian Students. We will be updating this regularly.
If you know of additional supports for International Ukrainian Students’ please email them to: [email protected]Â with subject link: Support for UKR INT Students – additional resources
POST-SECONDARY SUPPORT
Students, we see you and hear you.
With the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, SUSK has reached out to post-secondary institutions for more support for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Please see below for resources in ENGLISH and FRENCH, that include
1. Emails to professors and councillors
2. Email/letter to principles/presidents/deans of you academic institutions
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EMAIL TO PROFESSORS AND COUNCILLORS
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LETTER TO PRESIDENT/DEAN/PRINCIPAL
SAMPLE LETTER TO MPs
The Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK) calls on members of the community to CALL OUT CANADA AND SUPPORT UKRAINE~
We encourage all Ukrainians, Canadians, and Ukrainian Canadians living in Canada to support SUSK’s Russian Aggression Campaign by sending a letter to their local MP. A sample letter can be found below.
To find your local MP/MLA click this link: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search
[DATE]
SUBJECT LINE: We Demand That You Stand With Ukraine
Dear [INSERT YOUR MP’S NAME HERE — https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en]Â
RE: We Demand That You Stand With Ukraine
I am writing to you on behalf of Ukrainian Canadians, Ukrainians, and humanity. We must do everything we can to stop Russia’s attacks in Ukraine. I am terrified for my family and friends who are hiding in bomb shelters. Who are fleeing their capital city because of Russian invasion, or into neighbouring countries. After only one day of the invasion, there have already been 100,000 displaced people. How many more need to leave their homes, hide in subway stations or be run over by a military tank before we intervene?Â
On February 24, world history changed. There is a before February 24, 2022 and an after February 24, 2022. A Europe whole, free and at peace ended with Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Democratic countries must rally to Ukraine’s cause and do so immediately.
Russia is targeting civilians with bombing, rocket strikes and air attacks. Kyiv, the capital city, came under heavy fire from the air overnight on February 25. Russia’s president Putin and members of his regime are war criminals. Russia needs to be fully isolated from the international community immediately.
We have the following demands that ought to be implemented in order to gain peace in Ukraine, Europe and the world:
- A no-fly zone needs to be implemented over Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s allies need to help Ukraine secure its airspace.
- Ukraine needs more humanitarian aid weapons with which to defend itself right now. Most importantly they need anti-air systems like Stinger missiles and other air defence and naval defence systems, anti-tank weapons and ammunition.
- We demand stronger sanctions on Russia. It is evident that the previously imposed sanctions have done little to affect Russia’s invasion.Â
- A full embargo on trade with Russia needs to be imposed. Russian assets and the assets of Russian oligarchs in the west need to be frozen. We echo many Ukrainians’ and notably we demand that Canada supports other countries in shutting off Russia’s banks from the SWIFT International Payments System
- As a NATO member, we also demand that Canada do everything within its capacities to urge the Alliance to intervene in Ukraine.Â
We are at a crucial moment to change the course of history, to save thousands, even millions of lives. The world has been clear, we stand with Ukraine. Why can’t our governments and international institutions represent our demands — as per principles of democracy. I don’t want to turn on the news or open my social media to more bombs, tanks and deaths in my country. This is the first time since the Second World War that a country in Europe has attacked another, let alone invade its capital city. The world is looking at our governments to ensure that the atrocities of global history are not repeated.Â
We demand that you stand with Ukraine. And yes, this entails more than a Tweet.
[INSERT YOUR NAME HERE]Â
WHERE TO DONATE?
The UHA will provide humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine, working with the Ukrainian Canadian community across Canada to reduce duplication of effort, increase efficiency and ensure aid efforts have the most effective impact for Ukrainian citizens affected by the crisis.
“Efforts will be focused on the provision of humanitarian assistance in the form of medical care, emergency shelter and food security to displaced persons,” stated Orest Sklierenko, President of the Canada Ukraine Foundation.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between UCC and CUF details a framework for mutual collaboration:
- to work collaboratively on humanitarian assistance initiatives directed towards Ukraine, facilitating uniform and coordinated action between the UCC and CUF, its branches, and members, while building on the recognized expertise, experience, and resources of each organization;
- to develop projects that will combine the subject matter and implementation experience of CUF with the expertise of UCC in uniting the Ukrainian Canadian community;
- to offer donors and other stakeholders an opportunity to make contributions and receive reports through a single channel; and
- to adopt a coordinated approach in collaboration with donors and other stakeholders who wish to support people in Ukraine affected by crisis.
The main efforts of cooperation will be to provide humanitarian assistance/relief in the areas of Assistance to displaced persons, Medical care, Emergency Shelter and Food security. The roles and responsibilities of UCC and CUF are detailed in the MOA, including financial accountability, reporting requirements and overall transparency to the Ukrainian Canadian community.