Ukrainian Club of Berkeley

🔴 Urgent Call for Action 🔴

Dear members and supporters of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley,

We are facing a critical situation in Ukraine, particularly in the city of Kharkiv, the second-largest city in our homeland. Russian forces are escalating their attacks, aiming to wipe out not just our people but also the very essence of our city, its animals, and its natural environment.

Today, on April 11th, Kharkiv experienced a series of explosions during an air raid. The mayor, Igor Terekhov, reported the harrowing events, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Recent weeks have seen a surge in Russian shelling of Kharkiv and its surrounding areas. The aggressor’s strikes have intensified, targeting civilian areas and even children.

The russian milirary has changed tactics, resorting to double strikes on the same location, with a clear aim to cripple Ukrainian emergency services. The devastating attack on the power grid on March 22nd left Kharkiv virtually powerless, with scheduled blackouts exacerbating the situation.

Reports from American media indicate that Russia’s intensified assaults on Kharkiv aim to render the city uninhabitable, turning it into a gray zone devoid of life.

In this dire moment, we call upon you to take action. Please reach out to your representatives and urge them to support Ukraine in establishing a system of city sky protection, vital for safeguarding our people, our wildlife, and our environment in Kharkiv. Together, we can make a difference and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

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Today marks the solemn two-year anniversary of Ukraine’s liberation from Russian military occupation in Bucha and several cities near Kyiv and in northern Ukraine. In Bucha alone, nearly 1,000 individuals are reported killed or missing, with the majority being civilians, including women and children. There have been numerous reports of r**e, torture, and other heinous acts committed by Russian military forces, alongside the killing of thousands of animals. These acts represent countless crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Russian military in Ukraine.

The Times recently highlighted a significant concern: the looming threat of a renewed attempt by Russian forces to occupy Kyiv by the upcoming summer. This potential escalation underscores the urgent need for global support and action to prevent the repetition and amplification of these atrocities, especially in the eastern parts of Ukraine, where Russian military presence is currently concentrated.

We call upon the international community for help and support. By reaching out to your representatives and senators, you can play a crucial role in shining a light on these injustices and help safeguard democracy. Silence and inaction only serve to embolden those who commit these crimes. It’s imperative that we act now to prevent further suffering and ensure accountability for these egregious violations of human rights and dignity. Please, make your voice heard and contribute to the global effort to stand with Ukraine in these trying times.

The cost of indecision, procrastination, and indifference is steadily rising. The more procrastination from the side of the responsible democratic world, the more aggressively and cynically the aggressor acts.

Reach out to your representatives today and contribute to the efforts of providing aid to Ukraine, before it’s too late.

🎥 ‘20 Days in Mariupol,’ Mstyslav Chernov’s heart-wrenching documentary, has made history by winning the for Best Feature-Length Documentary, marking a significant moment for Ukraine on the global stage. 🏆🇺🇦 This film sheds light on the devastating impact of the siege on and the courage of those who stood firm in the face of adversity.

The war, like X-rays, reveals our true essence: it shows how good people can become even better, and how the worst can descend into the abyss. This quote from ‘20 Days of Mariupol’ resonates deeply with us, reminding us of the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian human spirit.

The Oscar recognition is a call to action.
1️⃣ Watch this powerful documentary to understand the gravity of the situation.
2️⃣ Reach out to our congress representatives, demanding more support for Ukraine to prevent further tragedies akin to what happened in Mariupol.

Let’s stand together in support of Ukraine. Let’s ensure the world hears the Ukrainians’ story, learns from it, and acts decisively. 💙💛

For the years 2022-2023, the Russian military has already caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in Ukraine. If nothing changes, and if Ukraine does not receive military aid to stop this planetary-scale abuse, we could see the number of victims rise to millions.

How can one negotiate peace when a neighbor occupies your land, r**es your children, and shoots your family?

How can one conduct business as usual, supporting corporations that do business in Russia and thus continue to fund terror, colonialism, r**e, and mass murder?

What can you do to protect the lives of millions of children, women, and men, and to safeguard the world, sustainability, and the climate?

1. Call your representatives today and make your position clear to them: the U.S. needs to support Ukraine, Europe, and the free world.
2. Check what you buy. Stop purchasing from corporations making bloody money.
3. Speak up. Don’t remain silent.

Today, on Sunday, the Senate advanced a $95 billion emergency aid bill, including $60.1 billion for Ukraine, with a bipartisan 67-27 vote, to support Kyiv against Russian aggression. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the people in the U.S., the American people, and all Ukrainians by their position who supported making this vital decision - not just for Ukraine, for the democracy and peace.

The survival of democracy hangs in the balance as the Kremlin seeks to obliterate and absorb Ukraine. Urgent action is imperative to bolster Ukraine’s resistance against totalitarian military aggression. Supporting US aid for Ukraine is not merely a moral obligation; it represents one of the most strategic investment opportunities for the United States. By standing with Ukraine in its fight for freedom, we safeguard the democratic principles that underpin our own nation’s foundation, while also securing stability and prosperity in the region and beyond, strengthening the US economy.

The Rebuild Schools Movement originated at Berkeley and Berkeley Haas. A year ago, the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley and Haas Run Club initiated the "RUN TO REBUILD SCHOOLS" project, garnering support from the Berkeley community, especially Haasies. With their collective efforts and resources, funds were raised to reconstruct two classrooms at Chernihiv school #20 (which was successfully implemented by the local partner .) On this day last year, participated in the Berkeley Half Marathon , bringing together over 40 runners dedicated to rebuilding schools in Ukraine. The collaboration with Haas Run Club extended to a charity meet-up at Haas. Gratitude is extended to the team, organizations, and partners who contributed to the project's success. Since then, the "Run to Rebuild Schools" concept has been adopted by various organizations worldwide, fostering global support for school reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

Dear members and friends of Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, you are cordially invited to the event organized by Kyiv-Mohyla Academy at University of California, Berkeley. Please, use this opportunity to contribute to the veteran supporting movement.

Participation is Free of charge. Please use the link in the comments below to learn more information and register.

Dear Friends!

You are cordially invited to the screening of the “Culture vs War” documentaries at the International House at UC Berkeley. Admission is FREE.

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The “Culture vs War” project was initiated by the “Watch Ukrainian!” Association in April 2022 to record and convey the truth about the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The heroes of the project are famous Ukrainian artists and cultural figures who, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, have defended their country and/or actively engaged in supporting Ukraine for a faster victory (military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteers and documentarians). Through their stories, beliefs, and reflections on the events, they acquaint the world and Ukrainian communities with the values and meanings of Ukrainian culture, which help Ukrainians to put up a worthy resistance to the aggressor.

OUR HEROES:

– ANTYTILA BAND. A Ukrainian pop-rock band, fronted by Taras Topolia. The group was founded in Kyiv in 2008. Before the war, the band performed in stadiums all over the country, released dozens of videos, and went on eight major tours, including those throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada. In February 2022, at the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion, the band’s musicians Taras Topolia, Serhii Vusyk, and Dmytro Zholud voluntarily joined the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

– AKHTEM SEITABLAIEV. Actor, director and producer. Akhtem Seitablaiev is an Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and director of the cultural space at the Crimean House. The director’s works include such films as “Khaitarma”, “87 Children”, “Cyborgs”, “Zakhar Berkut”, “Myrnyi-21”, and many others. His acting performances include more than 30 roles in theatre and film. In February 2022, Seitablaiev voluntarily joined the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

– SERHIY ZHADAN. Writer, poet, translator, musician. Serhiy Zhadan’s works are widely translated around the world and can be read in almost thirty languages. The writer has received many Ukrainian and international literary awards. Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, he has been organizing artistic events and providing volunteer assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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We are looking forward to seeing you at the Event!

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#ДивисьУкраїнське #УкраїнаВажлива

Join us at the Berkeley-Ukraine Summit that will be held tomorrow at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

https://lnkd.in/d7ErAzBu

Join the Berkeley-Ukraine Summit that will be held at Berkeley Haas tomorrow.

Berkeley-Ukraine Summit Tech-focused event that brings together the supporters of Ukraine in the US and the leaders of the Ukrainian tech ecosystem.

The Ukrainian Club of Berkeley is partnering with the for Good Foundation to host a special dinner event in support of Ukraine’s heritage that will be held on September 15 at Haas School of Business - UC Berkeley. The event will present Svidok.org (‘witness’ in Ukrainian), the largest archive of war experiences from Ukraine, partnered with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and every regional government. Svidok collects the stories of Ukrainians who tell about their experiences, losses and coping strategies. Many are children and teenagers, sharing their fears and perseverance, in a harrowing mirror of Anne Frank's diary from World War II. Others are young mothers giving birth to new life amid the death and destruction of war. Many recount their personal experiences with Russia’s destruction of historical sites and share their personal struggles to keep art and culture alive amid Russia’s barrage of destruction.

Join us at this very special event. The link for the event registration is in the stories and the profile.

UC Berkeley is offering a summer course about Ukraine. We welcome you to join the course and share the information about this opportunity with anyone who might be interested.

https://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2023-summer-ukraini-168-001-lec-001

The Honoring Ukrainian Resilience evening, organized by the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley and the broader UC Berkeley community, gathered to commemorate the 365 days that have passed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale and criminal invasion of Ukraine and 9 years of fight for freedom.

During the event's opening, the General Council of Ukraine in San Francisco, Dmytro Kushneruk, stated, "This is absolutely an unnecessary and unprovoked war. The atrocities we have seen when Ukrainian forces liberated Bucha, Kherson, and other smaller towns and villages in Ukraine, this is the picture we remember on this day, and we just want it to stop."

Julia Berezovska, President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, delivered a speech to honor the resilience of Ukrainians, stating that "The Russian war in Ukraine is not a regional conflict; it is a global economic issue, it is a threat to the world's sustainability, safety and human rights.

The central pillar of the event was the stories of Ukrainians at Berkeley. Dr. Vira Iefremova, a postdoc in neuroscience at UC Berkeley and Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, shared a story of her close friend Bizhan Sharopov, an extraordinary and fearless Ukrainian scientist who died fighting for Ukraine, protecting Kharkiv from the Russian invaders. On behalf of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, we are grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event happen, in particular, the panelists Noah Lesko-Kanowitz, a student of UC Berkeley Law, Nataliia Goshylyk, PhD and Lecturer of Ukrainian language, and Kaitlyn Lenkeit, UC Berkeley alumna, for sharing their impressive stories, Dariya Bakshinska, PhD Candidate and Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, for the general administration, and Chris Kozak, PhD, UC Berkeley, for his contribution to making this event a success. We would also like to thank all our supporters, event participants, and guests.

The Honoring Ukrainian Resilience evening, organized by the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley and the broader University of California, Berkeley community, gathered Berkeley and Bay Area residents to commemorate the 365 days that have passed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale and criminal invasion of Ukraine, as well as nine years of Ukraine's fight for freedom. The invasion represents the culmination of Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine, which began nine years ago with the occupation and annexation of Crimea in 2014.

During the event's opening, the General Council of Ukraine in San Francisco, Dmytro Kushneruk, Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco stated, "This is an absolutely unnecessary and unprovoked war. The atrocities we have seen when Ukrainian forces liberated Bucha, Kherson, and other smaller towns and villages in Ukraine, this is the picture we remember on this day, and we just want it to stop."

Julia Berezovska (Julia Daviy), MBA Candidate at Haas School of Business - UC Berkeley and President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, delivered a speech to honor the resilience of Ukrainians, stating that "The Russian war in Ukraine is not a regional conflict; it is a global economic issue, it is a threat to the world's sustainability, safety and human rights. It's characterized by attacks targeting children, schools, hospitals, residential buildings, and other civilian infrastructure. It's an ecocide targeting the functioning of our planet by killing millions of animals, destroying the world's most fertile soils, polluting the largest freshwater arteries of Europe."

The Russian war has impacted every Ukrainian at UC Berkeley, with everyone having personal stories of loss, from a close family member or friend to the destruction of their home cities. The central pillar of the event were the stories of Ukrainians at Berkeley. Dr. Vira Iefremova, a postdoc in neuroscience at UC Berkeley and Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, shared a story of her close friend Bizhan Sharopov, an extraordinary and fearless Ukrainian scientist who died fighting for Ukraine, protecting Kharkiv from the Russian invaders. He was the chairman of the Council of Young Scientists of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, a researcher at the Department of Neuromuscular Physiology of the Institute of Physiology named after O.O. Bogomoletsa, and co-founder and chief biologist of the company "Ukrainian Genetic Technologies."

After a year of full-scale war, the Ukrainian people have provided the world with an impressive example of courage, resilience, bravery, intelligence, and unity in the face of a cruel and numerically superior enemy that shows no mercy as it pursues the physical elimination of Ukrainians.

For many American Ukrainians, the severe injustice of the Russian war in Ukraine became a turning point to rediscover their Ukrainian roots, reestablish relations with their relatives and friends there, and join the efforts to support Ukraine's fight for freedom.

On behalf of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, we are grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event happen, in particular, the panelists Noah Lesko-Kanowitz, a student of UC Berkeley Law, Nataliia Goshylyk, PhD and Lecturer of Ukrainian language, and Kaitlyn Lenkeit, UC Berkeley alumna, for sharing their impressive stories, Dariya Bakshinska, PhD Candidate and Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, for the general administration, and Chris Kozak, PhD, UC Berkeley, for his contribution to making this event a success. We would also like to thank all our supporters, event participants, and guests.

Special thanks go to Nina Ukraine for highlighting this event. We also extend our gratitude to Tetiana Redko for the photos of the event.

Please follow on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram and join the community.

One of the most heartbreaking parts of this unprovoked Russian war against Ukraine is what the Russian government and Russians do to Ukrainian children.

Since the early days of the war nearly one year ago, Ukraine has faced an acute child protection crisis, CBS News correspondent Pamela Falk reported, including family separations, violence, sexual exploitation and trafficking, as well as the transporting of children to Russia. 

According to a recent report by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) identified 43 facilities involved in holding children from Ukraine since Russia’s 24 February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Their findings indicate the majority of camps have engaged in pro-Russia re-education efforts and some camps have provided military training to children or suspended the children’s return to their parents in Ukraine. Russia’s government has systematically relocated at least 6,000 children from Ukraine to a network of re-education and adoption facilities in Russia-occupied Crimea and mainland Russia. 

The primary purpose of the camps appears to be political re-education: At least 32 (78%) of the camps identified by Yale HRL appear engaged in systematic re-education efforts that expose children from Ukraine to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and/or military education. Multiple camps endorsed by the Russian Federation are advertised as “integration programs”, with the apparent goal of integrating children from Ukraine into the Russian government’s vision of national culture, history, and society.

This report explores evidence indicating potential violations of international law. The Fourth Geneva Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Violations of initial consent, the forcible transfer of children, and the failure to return children to their parents all constitute potential violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

One of the most heartbreaking parts of this unprovoked Russian war against Ukraine is what the Russian government and Russians do to Ukrainian children.

Since the early days of the war nearly one year ago, Ukraine has faced an acute child protection crisis, CBS News correspondent Pamela Falk reported, including family separations, violence, sexual exploitation and trafficking, as well as the transporting of children to Russia.

According to a recent report by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) identified 43 facilities involved in holding children from Ukraine since Russia’s 24 February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Their findings indicate the majority of camps have engaged in pro-Russia re-education efforts and some camps have provided military training to children or suspended the children’s return to their parents in Ukraine. Russia’s government has systematically relocated at least 6,000 children from Ukraine to a network of re-education and adoption facilities in Russia-occupied Crimea and mainland Russia.

The primary purpose of the camps appears to be political re-education: At least 32 (78%) of the camps identified by Yale HRL appear engaged in systematic re-education efforts that expose children from Ukraine to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and/or military education. Multiple camps endorsed by the Russian Federation are advertised as “integration programs”, with the apparent goal of integrating children from Ukraine into the Russian government’s vision of national culture, history, and society.

This report explores evidence indicating potential violations of international law. The Fourth Geneva Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Violations of initial consent, the forcible transfer of children, and the failure to return children to their parents all constitute potential violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

In the comments below you'll find a petition "Bring Ukraine's stolen children back home" - please, check it out and sign. We have to speak up on behalf of the most vulnerable!

The Russian war in Ukraine is not a regional conflict, it's a global economic issue. One year after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the world is still grappling with the consequences of this war. The energy shock triggered by Russia's aggression continues to drive up inflation, weaken household purchasing power, and increase risks worldwide, according to the OECD's latest Economic Outlook.

While developed economies have been able to weather the storm, the impact has been particularly severe in emerging markets. According to the recent article in the Economist, in Egypt, high food prices are causing particular hardship for the poor, as wheat, barley, and cooking oil supplies from Ukraine and Russia have been disrupted. In Nigeria, bakeries have shut down due to the exorbitant price of flour. Even in Germany, laundry owners are facing gas bills that have skyrocketed from 30,000 euros to 165,000 euros in just one year.

But the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine goes beyond these economic hardships. Russian aggression has destabilized the international order and threatened global security. The risk of a deep global economic recession is high if the Kremlin's actions continue unchecked.

It's time for the international community to take decisive action to stop Russia and its aggression towards Ukraine and threats towards other countries in the Eastern Europe. The consequences of inaction are too severe to ignore. We cannot afford to let this war in the heart of Europe escalate any further. The war in Ukraine is a global issue, and it's time for all nations to come together to stop it before it's too late.

🇺🇦 Join us in commemorating Ukraine's strength and resilience on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Let us honor Ukraine's courage in the face of adversity and stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they continue to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

🇺🇦 Come and share with everyone who would like to join us!

AGENDA:
1st Part: start at 4PM in front of the Civic Center.
- Raising of Ukrainian Flag
Venue: Berkeley City Council (2180 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA)

2nd Part:
starts at 6:30PM at Dwinelle 145
6:35-6:40 pm | The Unbreakable Spirit of Ukraine: A Visual Journey
6:40 - 6:55 pm | Session 1. Understanding the Full Picture: Uncovering the Facts and Fact-fulness of the Russian War in Ukraine
- Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco
- Julia Berezovska, President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, MBA Candidate Berkeley Haas
6:55-7:20 pm | Session 2. UC Berkeley and Ukraine: Personal Stories of Resilience and Resistance
Moderator: Dariya Bakshinska, Ph.D. Candidate, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley
- Max Zubkov, Ph.D. Candidate, Co-Founder of Berkeley with Ukraine and Support Ukraine With Us (SUWU)
- Dr. Vira Iefremova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley
- Dr. Nataliia Goshylyk, Lecturer in Ukrainian at UC Berkeley, and the Fulbright Visiting Professor at Berkeley Language Center in 2021-2022

7:20-8:00 pm | Session 3. Serving Ukraine: A Mariupol Defender's Story of Patriotism and Courage
Q&A with a Mariupol Defender
Moderator: Dr. Vira Iefremova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley

8:00- 8-8:30 | Coffee Break & Conversations

3rd Part: starts at 8:30pm at Sproul Plaza.
Candlelight Vigil for the victims of Russian Aggression.
Coordinator: Kaitlyn Lenkeit, Leader of Berkeley with Ukraine

Organizer is the Ukrainian community of UC Berkeley, including the , NGO SUWU

🇺🇲🇺🇦

🇺🇦 Join us in commemorating Ukraine's strength and resilience on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Let us honor Ukraine's courage in the face of adversity and stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they continue to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

🇺🇦 Links with all the details are in the comments below.
Come and share with everyone who would like to join us!

AGENDA:
1st Part: start at 4PM in front of the Civic Center.
- Raising of Ukrainian Flag
Venue: Berkeley City Council (2180 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA)

2nd Part:
starts at 6:30PM at Dwinelle 145
6:35-6:40 pm | The Unbreakable Spirit of Ukraine: A Visual Journey
6:40 - 6:55 pm | Session 1. Understanding the Full Picture: Uncovering the Facts and Fact-fulness of the Russian War in Ukraine
- Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco
- Julia Berezovska, President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, MBA Candidate Berkeley Haas
6:55-7:20 pm | Session 2. UC Berkeley and Ukraine: Personal Stories of Resilience and Resistance
Moderator: Dariya Bakshinska, Ph.D. Candidate, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley
- Max Zubkov, Ph.D. Candidate, Co-Founder of Berkeley with Ukraine and Support Ukraine With Us (SUWU)
- Dr. Vira Iefremova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley
- Dr. Nataliia Goshylyk, Lecturer in Ukrainian at UC Berkeley, and the Fulbright Visiting Professor at Berkeley Language Center in 2021-2022

7:20-8:00 pm | Session 3. Serving Ukraine: A Mariupol Defender's Story of Patriotism and Courage
Q&A with a Mariupol Defender
Moderator: Dr. Vira Iefremova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley

8:00- 8-8:30 | Coffee Break & Conversations

3rd Part: starts at 8:30pm at Sproul Plaza.
Candlelight Vigil for the victims of Russian Aggression.
Coordinator: Kaitlyn Lenkeit, Leader of Berkeley with Ukraine
Each participant will be provided with a candle, which they will hold and light. This symbolic act of lighting candles represents the light of hope that shines in times of darkness and serves as a powerful tribute to those affected by Russian Aggression. As the candles are lit, participants are invited to take a moment of silence, reflect on the impact of this aggression, and offer their condolences and support to those who have been affected.

Organizer is the Ukrainian community of UC Berkeley, including the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, Berkeley with Ukraine, NGO SUWU.

Registration is free but required.