Geelong man tells of Ukraine experiences, urges people to get behind fundraiser

A young Hamlyn Heights man who has spent two stints in Ukraine since it was invaded last year is urging the Geelong community to get behind a fundraiser.

Jeremy Pryslak building houses in Lukashivka, Ukraine. Picture: Supplied

Jeremy Pryslak has spent months in Ukraine, where he has sought refuge in bunkers and helped rebuild houses, since Russia invaded early last year.

All four of the 27-year-old Hamlyn Heights resident’s grandparents immigrated to Australia from Ukraine after WWII.

He spent about three months in the country last year, and recently returned from another six-week stint.

While in Ukraine, he said he helped in kitchens supplying food to soldiers and repairing or building houses in rural areas that had been occupied by Russian forces and attacked.

He described going into bunkers after air raid sirens sounded as “very surreal”.

“You have surreal images of whole classrooms ushered into air raid shelters and teachers continuing class,” he said.

He experienced nearby drone attacks and missile strikes when in Kyiv and Lviv.

“You just mirror everyone around you, your body goes in to a stress response,” he said.

“You have the advantage of being around Ukrainians, and they’re like, ‘oh well.’”

“There’s two worlds – there’s the front, the war zone, which is terrible, horrific, I haven’t seen it personally but you hear the stories.

“But then there’s places in the west (of Ukraine) where you’re just in Europe – places are still open, things are as normal until you hear an air raid siren.

“Life goes on basically.”

He said it “just felt right” to go back to Ukraine during the conflict.

“We’ve grown up in the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia, it’s always given so much to our lives,” he said.

Lachlan McDonald, venue manager at the Captain Bar and Jeremy Pryslak, who has organised a fundraiser for Ukraine. Picture: Alan Barber

Mr Pryslak and his sister are organising a fundraiser for the Defend Ukraine Appeal.

“This group started to raise nonlethal aid for Ukraine from Australia,” he said.

“What that looks like is sometimes medical aid.

“What we’ve been raising money for is commercial drones, what Ukrainians use that for is it’s basically their eyes.

“This technology has drastically changed the way wars are fought.”

He said people from countries like Australia had a moral imperative to help out places like Ukraine.

“When people get together we’re capable of amazing things,” he said.

The fundraising event will be held at and sponsored by Captain bar, at 8 Malop St in Geelong, on Sunday October 29 from 12pm.

The ‘Captain for a Cause’ event will celebrate Ukrainian culture.

Tickets are available at the door and more information can be found online.

Originally published as Geelong man tells of Ukraine experiences, urges people to get behind fundraiser