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'We are terrified': Calgary woman who fled Russian occupation helps victims of dam collapse in Ukraine

The collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine has unleashed a tsunami of water, triggering fears of an ecological catastrophe

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When her hometown of Kherson was liberated by Ukrainian troops last November, Anastasiia Haiduchenko was jubilant.

But the woman, who fled the Russian occupation of the southern Ukrainian city last spring and came to Calgary, said a tsunami of water unleashed by the collapse of a dam in her husband’s hometown of Nova Kakhovka has revived fears for the safety of family members and others left to fend with the new threat.

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“I’m a bit overwhelmed with all these emotions,” said Haiduchenko.

After spending Monday night and early Tuesday morning on the phone with her parents in Kherson, who are facing rising floodwaters, the 24-year-old said those family members appear to be safe for now.

“People have been evacuated to the safe part of the city but I’m not sure what’s next — (Wednesday) will be the worst situation (for flooding),” she said.

“We are not just concerned, we are terrified.”

More critically still, her in-laws live in the Russian-occupied town of where the dam is located, a structure that collapsed Monday in what many believe is a calculated act by the Kremlin’s troops to stall a Ukrainian offensive on the southern front by flooding its path.

“At first, (my in-laws) couldn’t believe the Russians had destroyed the dam,” said an emotional Haiduchenko.

“My husband spoke to his grandmother, she said people are trying to evacuate by themselves, but at least there is no more water coming. The water went down the river to Kherson and other small cities.”

She noted Russian forces on the east bank of the Dnipro River, who’ve have been bombarding Kherson with deadly effect since November, have continued to shell the area even as refugees from the dam breach seek safety.

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“They’re shelling Kherson in this moment . . . they’re in the middle of killing on top of killing,” said Haiduchenko.

“I’ll never forgive or forget — Russia is a terrorist state and I want to hear that from the rest of the world.”

She said scenes of suffering as the Russians refused to help evacuate victims of the deluge drove her to address a rally Tuesday evening at Memorial Drive and 10th Street N.W. that attracted more than 100 people, many brandishing the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag.

She’s also been fundraising to help her homeland while assisting the latest flood victims through efforts online and through contact with lifelong friends in Kherson who’ve volunteered to assist refugees and their pets.

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“We’re looking for some places to relocate people, trying to find more shelters,” said Haiduchenko, adding the welfare of refugees is a priority.

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“I don’t think about pushing the Russians away right now.”

Organizers of Tuesday evening’s Calgary demonstration echoed the woman’s words about holding Russia accountable for their atrocities in Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian community of Calgary echoes the public statement of Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, calling for Canada and our allies to designate the Russian Federation a state supporter of terrorism and implement sanctions that will once and for all disable the Russian war machine,” read a statement.

Last month, Haiduchenko said her parents were considering moving to safer areas of western Ukraine after a Russian artillery bombardment killed about two dozen people in Kherson, four of them dying as they shopped for groceries.

“Near our home, a grocery store was hit . . . some of (the victims) lived in our neighbourhood,” she said.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn

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