Across the world, people are showing support for Ukraine, the Eastern European country invaded by Russian forces last week.
And in Greenwood, a teacher is flying the Ukrainian flag in front of his home on River Road.
“I think it’s really important to show solidarity right now,” said Nick Onyshko, a Greenwood Middle School math teacher who is of Ukrainian descent.
On Feb. 24, Russian armed forces, at the order of President Vladimir Putin, began an invasion of Ukraine, a continuation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against its neighbor. Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and since then there have been continuing firefights in eastern regions of Ukraine.
Following the news of the invasion, Onyshko grabbed his Ukrainian flag and hung it vertically from the front porch of his home. The blue and yellow striped flag can be seen by pedestrians and motorists traveling along River Road.
Onyshko has Ukrainian heritage on his grandfather’s side of the family. In fact, Onyshko is a Ukranian surname.
Onyshko said he’s unaware of any family members he might have in Ukraine, but he and his family in California, from which he originates, have taken part in various Ukrainian traditions.
“I grew up with the traditions of celebrating different Ukrainian holidays with traditional Ukrainian cuisine and dances and music and different cultural aspects,” he said.
This also includes gatherings at his grandparents’ home in Los Angeles, where pierogies, or dumplings, and other Ukrainian dishes would be made.
Onyshko said he hasn’t had any reactions from the Greenwood community regarding his flag. But he said there had been a lot of conversation throughout town about the war. “A lot people are talking about it,” he said. “Of course, it’s a big deal.”
Ukrainian forces and armed civilian volunteers have had successes deterring and slowing down the Russian invasion. Russia, however, has larger and stronger armed forces that can sustain heavy casualties and continue fighting.
Western governments, including the United States, have imposed sanctions seeking to hamper Russia, but they have declined to send armed troops to assist Ukraine.
In the meantime, people around the world, including Onyshko, continue to show their support. “I hope that the flag sparks curiosity and more dialogue about the war,” Onyshko said.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 662-581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
