Bundaberg grandmother’s heartbreak over war in Ukraine

The Bundaberg daughter of Ukrainian parents has talked about the heartbreaking experience of watching war unfold near her family’s homes as she shares photos and memories of more peaceful times.

For Olga Beath, the unfolding situation in Ukraine is hard to watch.

Born to Ukrainian parents and having spent time in the Ukraine herself, Ms Beath is heartbroken as she follows the news from her home in Bundaberg.

Ms Beath shares a story of a people in Ukraine who are hardworking, kind and optimistic.

“The people over there, they’re so hardworking,” she says.

“All they want to do is build up their country.”

Ms Beath remembers her last trip to her late parents’ homeland, where in the early 2000s the land reminded her of travelling back in time to the 1950s.

It was a simpler era and the nation was only just starting to modernise.

In the rural areas, growers who couldn’t afford mechanical gear were still farming with a horse and cart.

Coca Cola was sold there for the first time in the early 2000s and she recalls the surprise and curiosity among her Ukrainian family members as she witnessed them take their first sip.

“I’m sure they would have come ahead leaps and bounds since then,” she says.

After the passing of her mum the language barrier added to the difficulty in keeping in contact with relatives.

But the family is worried.

Ms Beath and even her grandson had planned to make another trip to the Ukraine, but factors such as the pandemic had put a wedge in those plans.

Of particular concern is that some of her family live in some of the most dangerous parts of the country right now.

Her uncle lives in an area where Russians have breached the border, while some are on small farms about 20km out of Lviv.

Ms Beath wishes the world would step up more and stand with Ukraine.

“(Putin)’s got enough land in Russia,” she says.

“The world’s not doing enough.

Ukraine.

“(The Russians) are killing their own people. A lot of Ukrainians are married to Russians and Russians to Ukrainians.”

With Russian President Vladimir Putin being so wealthy in contrast to his people’s poverty, it’s evident his best interests are not with his country, she says.

When Lviv had been under Russian control, students at schools were forced to learn Russian.

It’s an indication of just how much Ukrainian people treasure their own freedom.

A simple country life in Ukraine.

“There’s sort of nothing we can really do except hope that somebody goes over there and helps them.

“You see these little children crying (in the Ukraine) and they’re only six or eight and they don’t know what’s going on.”

In spite of the tragedy and horror of war, Ms Beath has faith in the Ukrainian people and in their current leadership under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“He’s doing really well,” she says.

“He’s keeping his people together.

“The Ukrainian people are out there and they’ve been fighting for their country.”

Ms Beath says that due to her age and world events she feels may never have a chance to return to her parents’ home country.

“All we have now are our photos.”

One of Olga's photos of Ukraine.