SA’s Ukrainian community gathers for vigil as Adelaide woman’s sister stuck in bunker tells of ‘black sky’

Hundreds of SA Ukrainians have gathered in Adelaide for a vigil to pray for friends and loved ones under assault by invading Russian forces as city landmarks were lit up in solidarity.

Members of South Australia’s Ukrainian community gathered in the hundreds at a vigil on Friday night to pray for friends and family back home.

Mothers and daughters embraced in tears as the country’s national anthem was played over the loud speaker during the vigil.

People attending held signs splashed with “Ukraine wants peace” and “say no to Putin” in support of Ukranians abroad.

Many of the South Australians gathered have loved ones trapped in the Ukraine unable to leave the country since the Russian invasion.

Alexandra Kardasz was a literature teacher in the Ukraine and was told that two of her former students were killed in the conflict.

Members of the Ukranian community are seen standing together, holding signage, candles and flags at the Ukranian Community Club in Adelaide. Picture: Morgan Sette

Ms Kardasz, who has lived in Australia for 52 years, said many of her family members refuse to leave the Ukraine despite the danger.

Ms Kardasz’s mother and sister are in the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv and are unable to leave.

Ms Kardasz, of Athelstone, fought back tears speaking about her former students’ deaths.

Larisa Holovati, who has close friends Western Ukraine, said she was being reassured by her overseas family but had serious concerns for their safety despite the western side of the country being less affected.

Association of Ukrainians in South Australia President Frank Fursenko was shocked at the local community’s turn-out for the vigil and called for people to support Ukranians at home and abroad.

“The fact they turned up for a vigil, it was a massive show of support,” Mr Fursenko said.

“We (Ukranians) depend critically on western support.”

“Ukraine’s existence is now very much in the hands of just how much support we can get from the West.”

“Rallies like this and getting the Australian people on side...is most important.”

SA woman’s Ukrainian family ‘trapped in a bunker’

A South Australian Ukrainian immigrant’s mother, sister and niece are taking shelter in an underground bunker southwest of Kyiv while their town is bombed.

Feeling “helpless” and worried, Yuliya Zhylikhovska, 40, of Glenelg North, calls her family every hour to make sure they are coping.

“The government is asking to switch off lights everywhere, on the road as well, in the small village, to prevent bombing,” Mrs Zhylikhovska said.

Her mother, Ludmyla Ishchuk, 65, sister, Olena Kiryluk, 46, and niece, Yana Shelukhin, 25, were hiding in a bunker at Ms Kiryluk’s home in Hlukhivtsi, about 200km southwest of the capital Kyiv.

Olena Kiryluk and Yana Shelukhin in the bunker. Picture: Supplied

Speaking from her shelter, Ms Kiryluk said her community has “banded together”.

“There is panic, but we are holding on. Our spirits are strong but the sky looks black around us,” Ms Kiryluk said.

Olena Kiryluk’s bunker in Hlukhivtsi was full with 16 people. Picture: Supplied

A photo taken of the bunker in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture: Supplied

Ms Shelukhin, Ms Kiryluk’s daughter, runs a bakery and is “working 24/7 baking bread for the community” to ensure they are fed, Ms Kiryluk said.

Their family was expecting a total of 16 people to come to their shelter.

“I read online, that the military is preparing for a severe bombardment of Kyiv,” Ms Kiryluk said about 2pm Adelaide time.

Shortly after, at 3pm in Adelaide and about 47km from their home, the Kalynivka ammunition depot was bombed by Russian forces.

Mrs Zhylikhovska said her family was safe, and could “hear the bombing, but it was far away”.

An interior view of the bunker. Picture: Supplied

A small grouping of necessary supplies. Picture: Supplied

“My sister organised everything – food and water – my niece is in hysterics and my mother is calm,” Mrs Zhylikhovska said.

While fighting back tears, she said that her family, comprising husband, Andriy, 43, two sons, Matviy, 20, Myron, 13, and daughter, Milana, 9, in SA feel “hopeless”.

“I feel absolutely hopeless, I cannot help them,” Mrs Zhylikhovska said.

“We would like everyone in South Australia to pray for Ukraine.”

The Zhylikhovska family left Ukraine in 2013, while Andriy was working for an Australian company as a ship captain.

Yuliya Zhylikhovska, pictured with her daughter Milana, 9, who was born in Ukraine. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ms Zhylikhovska urged a reminder that a large majority of Russian citizens were against an invasion of Ukraine.

“I have a lot of Russian friends and I can thank them because a lot of people from Russia support us,” she said.

A large portion of Aliona King’s family remain in Ukraine, with some male relatives taking to the front lines, while others remain in shelters.

“It’s been absolutely awful, horrendous experience for everybody and it feels like it isn’t going to end anytime soon,” Ms King, 50, of Mitcham, said.

“I’m really worried about their safety.”

A Russian tanks destroyed by Ukrainian forces. Picture: Supplied

Ms King, of the SLAVA Ukrainian Cultural Centre unveiled large Pysanka eggs at Unley Civic Library on Friday, a traditional Easter celebration of harmony and peace.

The unveiling came about a month early, to highlight the urgency for peace in the region.

“The main message, which those eggs have to send to people is harmony and peace, and that was what the eggs were supposed to be about,” Ms King said.

President of Association of Ukrainians in South Australia, Frank Fursenko, said the state’s community was feeling “shock, number one, anxiety and a little bit of anger that it has come to this”.

Premier Steven Marshall said Government House, Parliament House, Adelaide Oval, and a number of other SA landmarks would be lit up as a “symbol of solidarity” for Ukraine.

The Adelaide Entertainment Centre lit up in blue and yellow, in solidarity of Ukraine. Picture: Morgan Sette

Adelaide Oval lit up in blue and yellow, in solidarity with Ukraine. Picture: Morgan Sette

“Landmarks in SA will this evening be lit-up blue and yellow as a symbol of our solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of this unjustified, unwarranted, unprovoked and unacceptable invasion by Russia,” he said.