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Unbroken Blossoms – 2

Sep 12, 2017 | Featured

Mykhailo Zienchuk, Committee Member “UCU Helps Ukraine”; Manager, Wealth Strategies Group, Ukrainian Credit Union Limited.

A Chance to Meet Some of Ukraine’s Heroes in Toronto

Following the Revolution of Dignity 2013/14, the fierce battle for Ukrainian Independence and Statehood continues, as Ukraine’s armed forces are in their 4th year of holding the line against Russia and its proxies who have invaded Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Ukraine’s favourite sons and daughters continue to be shot at, wounded and killed by Russian artillery and heavy weapons, standing firm against the Muscovite aggressors. Ukraine’s bravest continue to return from the battlefield maimed or worse, while the West waffles in providing Ukraine with much needed lethal defensive weapons.

Beginning in January 2015, staff and members of Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, along with conscientious patriots in the Ukrainian community, have been raising funds to help Ukraine’s wounded soldiers who suffered serious injury withstanding the Russian aggressor on the front lines of Ukraine’s battle for independence. “UCU Helps Ukraine” was spearheaded by Kateryna Litvinjuk, with Roman Mlynko and Mykhailo Zienchuk playing supporting roles on the committee.

UCU Helps Ukraine raises over $161,000 to date

“UCU Helps Ukraine” through ongoing donations from staff and members since January 2015, as well through a special four-event tour of two soldier recipients of financial assistance (project “Unbroken Blossoms”, June 2016), raised over $161,000, distributing over $145,000 to 91 of Ukraine’s bravest soldiers, many of whom lost arms or legs, while others suffered serious head, neck and spinal injuries. “UCU Helps Ukraine” was initiated to help the most seriously wounded soldiers who ended up in Lviv’s Military Hospital. The financial assistance was meant to help cover the most pressing costs these soldiers were facing – to help pay for post-operative rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Centre in Modrychi; to help cover costs for a prosthesis; to help cover ongoing family expenses, or for whatever was the most pressing financial issue for the soldier and their family at the time.

In June of 2016, “UCU Helps Ukraine” project brought to Toronto and area two recipients of financial assistance from the project, electrician and communications specialist Vadym Ziablytsev of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and soldier Ihor Sholtys of the OUN Voluntary Battalion. Along with them came Yuriy Lipar, one of the founders of the volunteer group “Halytski Surmy”, who was invaluable in caring for the two heroes during their stay in Toronto, and who is the chief coordinator for distributing funds raised through “UCU Helps Ukraine” to the wounded soldiers in Ukraine.

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Volunteer Yuriy Lipar with wounded Ukrainian soldiers Vadym Ziablytsev and Ihor Sholtys, recipients of assistance from “UCU Helps Ukraine” and participants in “Unbroken Blossoms 2016”

“Unbroken Blossoms 2016” culminated in four events in Oakville, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Mississauga, which provided an opportunity for those generous benefactors in the Ukrainian-Canadian community to come, see and hear from two soldiers who were on the receiving end of their generosity. It is not an exaggeration to say that each event was very emotional, as the soldiers told their stories of why they volunteered to take up arms and defend Ukraine’s territory and its citizens from Russia’s invasion. These young brave men were ready to give the ultimate sacrifice to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty, and ended up giving up their physical health and wellbeing so that their compatriots could live in a free, democratic and civilized Ukraine. The outpouring of support for these two brave men and “UCU Helps Ukraine” project proved invaluable in continuing support for the wounded who still arrive at Ukraine’s military hospitals.

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Soldiers Ihor Sholtys and Vadym Ziablytsev and presenter Lesia Babiy at “Unbroken Blossoms 2016” Gala dinner at the Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mississauga, June 2016.

“Unbroken Blossoms 2016” raised $32,000 to continue providing financial support to Ukraine’s wounded soldiers. Now over a year has gone by and the funds are almost fully distributed, but Ukraine’s battle is not finished, and the wounded continue to return from the battlefield.

Staff of Ukrainian Credit Union Limited continue to maintain direct contact with the volunteers and soldier-recipients of financial aid from “UCU Helps Ukraine”. In October of 2016, Kateryna Litvinjuk met with several of “our” soldiers and the volunteers of “Halytski Surmy” while in Lviv. Kateryna takes a special interest in following the progress the soldiers make over time, how they work towards getting their lives back in order and carry on towards a “normal” life after leaving active military duty.

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“UCU Helps Ukraine” director Kateryna Litvinjuk, standing left of centre in black, with “Halytski Surmy” volunteers and wounded Ukrainian soldiers (front row sitting) – recipients of financial assistance from “UCU Helps Ukraine” in Lviv, Ukraine October 2016

Visiting Ruslan Filipsonov – UCU Helps Ukraine’s first beneficiary

In July 2017, “UCU Helps Ukraine” committee member, Mykhailo Zienchuk, traveled to Ukraine with his family (at his own cost), and had the opportunity to visit some of the recipients of financial assistance from the project while in Lviv. Ruslan Filipsonov, who was the first recipient of financial assistance under the program back in February 2015, was gathering additional funds for his 53rd operation in Austria – Ruslan was one of the worst injured, and he requires very serious operations to help keep his internal organs in place in his body. Ruslan was very optimistic about his recovery, and is mobile on his own strength, yet it is evident that he is suffering from much pain. “UCU Helps Ukraine” provided additional funding for Ruslan for his 53rd operation.

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Ruslan Filipsonov and Mykailo Zienchuk in Lviv, July 2017

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Ruslan Filipsonov with Zienchuk family, Lviv, July 2017

Following “Unbroken Blossoms 2016”, Ihor Shotys returned to his studies at the University of Opole, Poland, where he was before he took a “sabbatical” to lend his support to activities on the Maidan and then joined the Volunteer Battalion OUN before being wounded in the battles near Pisky. Ihor is active both in the patriotic community in Lviv as well as getting involved in politics at the local level. He spent a few weeks this past summer helping with the children’s camp “Hajdamatska Sich”.

Vadym Ziablytsev’s story is a little more complicated, as he continues to suffer from headaches and walks with a heavy limp. Vadym hoped to be able to work as a taxi driver in his local town of Berdychiv in Zhytomirska oblast’ to help support his mother and younger brother, but his injuries remain a challenge for him. When Mykhailo Zienchuk of “UCU Helps Ukraine” met with him in Lviv, as Vadym had traveled back to the military hospital where he was initially treated for his wounds to consult with the doctors on what to do to help him with his headaches. Vadym had a polymer plate implanted to provide support for his skull, but continues to suffer migraines.

UCU Helps

Yuriy Lipar, Mykhailo Zienchuk and sons Pavlo and Oles, Ihor Sholtys, Vadym Ziablytsev, Lviv, July 2017

Meet three of the Invictus Games athletes in person

This September 2017, Toronto has the privilege of hosting the Invictus Games, what is best described as military para-olympics. This is the third such games being held. Invictus Games were initiated by Prince Harry of England who was so moved by the sacrifice of British soldiers defending democracy around the world that he decided that something needed to be organized for wounded military veterans to help them on their path of physical and emotional recovery. The Invictus Games would allow everyone the opportunity to see and recognize the great sacrifice that these soldiers have made for their countries and for democracy globally, and that they can overcome their injuries and do something important for themselves – build self-esteem. Also, it allows injured soldiers from different countries to compete against each other, building comradery and friendship that will last a lifetime. They will feel less alone and isolated in society.

The first Invictus Games were held in London, UK in 2014, and the second Games were held in Orlando, Florida in 2016. For the 2017 Games in Toronto, two new countries have been invited to participate: Ukraine and Romania. This is a wonderful opportunity for the large and active Ukrainian hromada in the Greater Toronto Area to come out and support these young men and women to compete and demonstrate their determination to overcome their injuries and show all of us that they will carry on successfully with life.

Three UCU Helps Ukraine beneficiaries to appear at UNF Hall on September 28

“UCU Helps Ukraine” is fortunate to have had three individuals who received financial assistance from our project to be selected to Team Ukraine for Invictus Games Toronto 2017. Vadym Svyrydenko (running), Roman Panchenko (archery) and Serhiy Kalytiuk (associate) are travelling with Team Ukraine to competing on September 23-30. We are fortunate to have these three athletes agree to speak at a special event “UCU Helps Ukraine” is organizing for September 28th at 7pm at the UNF Trident Hall – “Unbroken Blossoms – 2”. This will be a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian hromada to hear their stories, how they came to join the fight to defend Ukraine, how they sustained their injuries and what drove them to become athletes selected to represent Ukraine at Invictus Games Toronto 2017. “UCU Helps Ukraine” will be collecting donations to continue support for Ukraine’s injured soldiers, funding those who need the same kind of rehabilitation opportunities that these three received.

We ask that the Ukrainian hromada come out and hear firsthand from Ukraine’s soldier-athletes and support “UCU Helps Ukraine”.

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