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AFUO || CУОА

@ozeukes

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Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations - The peak body representing 21 Ukrainian community organisations in Australia 🇺🇦🇦🇺

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𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲. 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 🇺🇦💙💛

🎥 Sydney band Breathe. @breathe.team have released a powerful new documentary following their unforgettable journey to Ukraine.

🎶 Ukraine has been home to one of breathe.’s biggest audiences since they launched in 2018, and since the start of the full-scale invasion, their music has reached people in bomb shelters and on the front line.

In July this year, they decided it was time to show up in person. They travelled to Ukraine to play two fundraising shows, and on the night before their Kviv show, sheltered through one of the largest missile attacks on Kyiv since russia's invasion began.

💬 "We had heard about Ukraine through headlines about missiles, drones, and destruction. What we found there was life, culture, community, and an extraordinary determination to protect it all."

🇦🇺➡️🇺🇦 They came home "feeling a responsibility to share the stories people trusted us with," and this documentary is how they've honoured that trust.

📺 Featured on ABC's @7.30 and a highlight of Ukrainian Council of NSW's Independence Day celebrations at North Bondi RSL Club @northbondirslclub, these inspiring young men have well and truly become our own. 🙌 Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations and Ukrainian Council of NSW @uc.nsw are proud to support breathe. as they plan their return to Ukraine next March. ✈️

🙏 A huge thank you to Ukrainian Women's Association Australia Mriya branch, Uki Shtuky @uki.shtuky and Tata Cookies @tatacookies.au for keeping everyone well fed at the launch with delicious food and biscuits!

🎬 Watch the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nfE4GylYuo

🎧 Find breathe. on Spotify

Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦

#breathe #StandWithUkraine #SlavaUkraini #UkrainianAustralians #AFUO #UCNSW by @ozeukes

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8 hours ago

🔎 LOOK CLOSER — ДИВИСЬ УВАЖНІШЕ!

Правда чи фейк? Як навчитися розпізнавати дезінформацію?

Запрошуємо українських дітей та підлітків віком від 11 років ознайомитися з освітнім проєктом LOOK CLOSER, присвяченим медіаграмотності, критичному мисленню та безпеці в інформаційному просторі.

📅 Початок — 15 жовтня 2026 року.

Проєкт реалізує ГО «Простір знань» за підтримки Посольства Литовської Республіки в Україні.

🔗 Реєстрація на вебінар: https://forms.gle/H77UAsE8QqhsmxW89

📚 Освітня платформа «СторіЯ»: https://storiya.info/

Детальна інформація також доступна за QR-кодом на афіші. by @ozeukes

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a day ago

🇺🇦🇦🇺 Meet our Ukrainian Mental Health Fellows

💙💛 It’s a priviledge having our third group of Ukrainian mental health professionals with us in Sydney for their three-month Australia Awards Fellowship, which runs until late November:

Meet the Fellows:

🔹 Mariia Mavropulo, Child Psychiatrist, Dnipro
🔹 Liudmyla Terekhovska, Child and Adult Psychiatrist, Vinnytsia
🔹 Iryna Krynytska, Social Worker from the UCU, Lviv
🔹 Olena Bilan, Social Worker from the UCU, Lviv
🔹 Svitlana Kohut, Social Worker and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UCU, Lviv
🔹 Olga Skrynnyk, Child and Adult Psychiatrist from Kyiv (originally from Kharkiv)
🔹 Mariya Sukmanovska, Adult Psychiatrist from Unbroken, Lviv
🔹 Anastasiia K, Paediatric Neurologist training in psychiatry, Dnipro (arriving soon)

Their organisations include the Ukrainian Catholic University @ucu_official (UCU), UNBROKEN @unbrokenukraine and Without Barriers - Безбар'єрність @barrier_free.ua (Ministry of Health - Міністерство охорони здоров'я України @moh_ukraine).

The Fellows are learning how Australian services respond to trauma while sharing their own experience. Working under extraordinary pressure has pushed them to innovate, and the Australian teams are learning just as much from them.

The group have also travelled to Canberra, where they met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko @vasyl_myroshnychenko, Assistant Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite MP @thistlethwaitem and DFAT officials.

A big thank you to Dr Tanya Dus, Director of Psychiatry at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, for facilitating the program, and to Galiya Faskhutdinova, Training Project Officer at STARTTS @starttsnsw, for supporting the team throughout their stay.

The Fellowship program is supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade @dfat, delivered by STARTTS, and supported by health organisations including Sydney Local Health District @sydneylocalhealthdistrict.

#AustraliaAwards #Ukraine #MentalHealth #TraumaInformedCare #STARTTS #RPA #SydneyLHD by @ozeukes

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3 days ago

Our community's voice is being heard. 🇺🇦🇦🇺

📰 Today’s article by Matthew Knott in The Sydney Morning Herald @sydneymorningherald and The Age @theageaustralia reports on comments made by the Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young @sarah_hansonyoung in favour of military aid to Ukraine, a sign there is support within the Greens for Ukraine's right to defend itself.

The article also reports on our community’s advocacy, including the AFUO's meeting with Greens Leader Senator David Shoebridge @david.shoebridge last Friday and our call for the Greens to reconsider their position.

💔 Every day, russia targets Ukrainian homes, hospitals, schools and civilian energy infrastructure, killing and terrorising civilians. Ukrainians have no choice but to defend themselves, and in doing so they defend sovereignty, democracy and international law - principles that keep every nation safe, including Australia.

🤝 Ukrainians need practical, military support to keep up that defence, and we will continue advocating with the Greens on how Australia can best provide it.

💙💛 Thank you to everyone in our community who has spoken up.

🔗 Link to full article - in Bio

#StandWithUkraine #UkrainianAustralians #AusPol by @ozeukes

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5 days ago

On 9 October 2026, President Trump announced he had struck a deal with putin for russia to supply diesel to the US and global markets.

This is a betrayal of Ukraine and the democratic world. It also undermines every partner, including Australia, that has kept sanctions on russian energy exports since 2022 when russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Energy exports are the main source of money for russia's war. That money pays for the bombs and missiles fired at Ukrainian cities. The day after the deal was announced, russia dropped glide bombs on apartment blocks in Zaporizhzhia. At least 17 people were killed, including three children. President Zelenskyy said russia "expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions" with these bombs. On 8 October, a russian glide bomb hit two passenger buses in Kramatorsk and killed 33 people. The day before, a missile strike on Pryluky killed 22 people, including children. These ruthless attacks are financed by the russian war machine that Trump will now be directly funding.

Energy analysts doubt this diesel will ever reach the market in meaningful volumes. Putin does not need it to. He has already gained sanctions relief and a public endorsement from the White House. This normalises dealing with a war criminal, while Ukrainians pay with their lives.

President Zelenskyy put it plainly: "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace."

Rewarding the aggressor does not end a war. It funds the next attack.

The AFUO thanks Minister Chris Bowen MP @chrisbowenmp for his clear statement yesterday that “Australia does not need or want russian fuel”. We welcome this firm stand. We urge the Australian Government to build on this position by closing the loophole that still allows russian crude refined in third countries to enter Australia.

On Thursday, 15 October at 2:00pm, members and supporters of the Ukrainian community in Canberra will protest outside the American Embassy.

Peace cannot be built by rewarding aggression while Ukraine continues to pay the price in innocent lives.

#StandWithUkraine #CloseTheBloodOilLoophole by @ozeukes

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8 days ago

🇺🇦 AFUO meets Greens Leader: Ukraine needs military aid to defend itself

Following widespread concern across the Ukrainian-Australian community over media reports that the Australian Greens oppose military aid to Ukraine, the AFUO organised a meeting with Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge to discuss the party’s position directly.

AFUO Chair Kateryna Argyrou, Ukrainian Council of NSW @uc.nsw President Andrew Mencinsky and Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc. @ukrqld President Peter Bongiorni attended the meeting, which provided an opportunity for a frank and constructive exchange about the Greens’ policy, its impact on the Ukrainian community, and how Australia can best support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Senator Shoebridge reaffirmed the Greens’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and its resistance against Russia’s illegal invasion, as well as humanitarian assistance, support for displaced Ukrainians in Australia, and stronger sanctions against Russia. He explained that the party’s longstanding policy opposes weapons transfers.

The AFUO acknowledged the Greens’ support, however, we directly urged Senator Shoebridge to reconsider the party’s opposition to military assistance for Ukraine. The discussion also explored whether the Greens’ position could accommodate other forms of defence assistance, including direct financial support to the Ukrainian Government.

The AFUO’s message was clear: Peace cannot be secured by asking the victim of aggression to endure it without the means to defend itself. It requires stopping the aggressor and ensuring Ukraine can protect its people and its future. Sanctions, humanitarian assistance and military support are complementary - not competing - measures. Ukraine needs all three.

We also called for urgent action to close loopholes allowing Russian-origin oil to enter Australia.

🇺🇦🇦🇺 The AFUO welcomed this opportunity for dialogue, but we will continue to advocate for a change in policy. We urge Senator Shoebridge and the Greens to reconsider their opposition to military aid.

#StandWithUkraine #AFUO #UkraineNeedsMilitaryAid #CloseTheSanctionsLoophole by @ozeukes

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9 days ago

💔 𝟭𝟴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻. 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻.

A brutal russian missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, has claimed the lives of 18 people. Among the dead are Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhii, who were just one year old, and Maksym, who was only eight.

Dozens more have been injured, including seven children, as rescue workers continue to clear the rubble.

🛑 russia’s relentless targeting of Ukrainian residential areas and children is not an accident. It is a deliberate choice of terror.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁.

We need immediate, increased global pressure on russia. Ukraine urgently requires stronger air defence and military support to protect its people from these horrific attacks.

We call on the Australian Government to stand strongly with Ukraine and lead in calling out these atrocities.

🇦🇺🇺🇦 Email your local Member of Parliament to urge them to advocate for more military aid for Ukraine: https://standwithukraine.good.do/aus-provide-more-military-aid-to-ukraine/message-local-mps/

#StandWithUkraine #UkraineUnderAttack #StopRussianTerror #AFUO #AusPol #Chernihiv #Pryluky by @ozeukes

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11 days ago

🇦🇺🇺🇦 Another delivery of critical equipment to the 214th Battalion in Ukraine

During Lt Viktoriia Savkiv’s recent advocacy tour, Australians came together to listen, learn and stand with Ukraine. Together, we also raised funds to support Lt Savkiv’s battalion.

Last week, we reported on the EcoFlow power stations that were delivered.

Today, we are able to report on the next delivery - a large generator and essential drone batteries, made possible by the generosity of Australians.

⚡ The generator will provide vital backup power to the 214th Battalion’s command centre on the frontline.

🔋 The drone batteries will power large agricultural drones used to deliver food and water to Ukrainian infantry holding positions in areas too dangerous to reach by vehicle.

This is what solidarity looks like 💙💛

A donation made in Australia becomes power and critical support for Ukrainian defenders.

A gesture of support travels thousands of kilometres and reaches those who need it most.

A promise to stand with Ukraine becomes something tangible in the hands of those defending their country.

To every Australian who donated, attended an event, shared our appeals or stood beside Ukraine: дякуємо. Thank you. 🙏

Your support is making a real difference.
It matters. 🇺🇦🇦🇺

Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc. @ukrqld, Ukrainian Council of NSW @uc.nsw, Association of Ukrainians in Victoria @assoc_ukrainians_vic, North Bondi RSL Club @northbondirslclub, Посольство України в Австралії / Embassy of Ukraine in Australia @emb_uainau

#StandWithUkraine #CommunitySupport #MilitaryAid #AFUO #DUA by @ozeukes

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12 days ago

𝗔 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲: 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 🇺🇦

The Ukrainian community, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, the Australian Government and the Coalition have all strongly rejected the Greens’ refusal to support military assistance for Ukraine.

Kateryna Argyrou @katerynaargyrou, chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) said today in the The Sydney Morning Herald @sydneymorningherald / The Age @theageaustralia 📰 :

“Senator Shoebridge’s refusal to support military assistance for Ukraine effectively asks Ukraine to defend itself with words, while Russia wages a war of aggression with missiles and drones.”

The Greens want UN Security Council approval for military aid, where russia holds a veto. That hands the aggressor a veto over its victim’s defence.

Instead, the Greens’ point to sanctions, including closing the loophole that lets russian blood oil into Australia. We support tougher sanctions too, including closing the loophole, but sanctions and military aid are not mutually exclusive. Ukraine needs both.

“Refusing military support in the name of ‘peace and non-violence’ is deeply painful to the Ukrainian families who live with this reality every day…Peace is not achieved by refusing to help the victim – it is achieved by stopping the aggressor,” said Kateryna.

🤝 We thank Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko @vasyl_myroshnychenko for his powerful advocacy, and Minister Pat Conroy MP and Senator James Paterson @senatorjamespaterson for their bipartisan support for Ukraine.

🇺🇦🇦🇺 The Ukrainian-Australian voice has been heard. Seven out of ten Australians support military aid to Ukraine, and our community is deeply grateful for that steadfast solidarity.💙💛

✉️ Make your voice heard. You can write to Senator David Shoebridge, Leader of the Australian Greens, at senator.shoebridge@aph.gov.au. Please share why military assistance matters to you and your family.

🔗 Read the full story: link in Bio

#StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #AFUO by @ozeukes

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13 days ago

This is what Ukrainian Film Festival Australia 2026 @uff_australia made possible 🇦🇺🇺🇦

📍 7 cities
🎥 43 screenings
🎬 9 Ukrainian films
🤓 More than 2,500 attendees
🫴 Over $30,000 raised for Future Ukraine @futureukraine_australia ➡️ Olena Zelenska Foundation / Фундація Олени Зеленської @zelenskafoundation

And now - that support has reached Ukraine.

⚡️We are incredibly proud to share that a new generator has been delivered to a school in Poltava Oblast, turning the energy of the festival into real, practical support for children and their school community.

This is the power of coming together. Every ticket, every screening, every volunteer, every conversation and every donation helped create this result.

UFFA was more than a film festival.
🤝 It became action.
🫶 It became support.
💪 It became impact.

Australia watched. Ukraine felt the impact. by @ozeukes

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15 days ago

𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 🇺🇦🇦🇺

It's been a busy few weeks of advocacy for the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) and member organisations, with meetings across the Federal Parliament, government and even Government House! 🏛️

📩 Foreign Minister Penny Wong @senatorpennywong and DFAT officials: AFUO letter urging Australia to join international calls for action on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in temporarily occupied Oleshky, under siege by russia.

🗣️ The office of the Hon Pat Conroy MP and Defence officials: in an online meeting, the AFUO advocated for military aid for Ukraine and was briefed on Australia's latest $45m defence package, including how aid and decommissioned kit is matched to Ukraine’s needs.

🗣️ Senator Deborah O'Neill @sendeborahoneill, Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine: AFUO chair Kateryna Argyrou @katerynaargyrou, Ukrainian Council of NSW - ОУГ НПВ @uc.nsw President Andrew Mencinsky and AFUO Communications Manager Nadia Mencinsky @nadiamencinsky advocated for the closing of the blood oil sanctions loophole; more military aid; and visa certainty for Ukrainians in Australia.

🤝 Office of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor MP @angustaylormp, and with Senator Dave Sharma @davesharma: ongoing AFUO engagement, with meetings coming up soon.

🗣️ Zoe McKenzie MP: AFUO Board member Chrestyna Kmetj @cltk157 and AFUO Ukraine Aid Coordinator Teresa Lachowicz @treesalacho discussed humanitarian needs, russian disinformation, and the importance of Australia staying engaged.

🍯 The Governor General: in an act of “cake diplomacy”, Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc. @ukrqld President Peter Bongiorni presented the Governor-General with a Ukrainian honey cake during Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations in Canberra.

We're grateful for Australia's support so far, but Ukraine's fight is far from over. We'll keep bringing our community's voice to Canberra and pushing for meaningful action. 💙💛

#StandWithUkraine #AFUO #UCNSW #UCQ #UkrainianAustralians by @ozeukes

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16 days ago

🛢️ 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴.

As reported by Matthew Knott in The Sydney Morning Herald / The Age @sydneymorningherald / @theageaustralia, a new CREA report estimates 68% of the oil Australia imported from Brunei's Hengyi refinery this year was russian-derived, up from 24% two years ago. He notes the AFUO warned the Senate russia sanctions inquiry earlier this year that inaction risked turning Australia into a “dumping ground” for russian blood oil.

📰 Adrian Zorzut in News.com.au @newscomauhq has recently highlighted Australia's “russian oil addiction," quoting the AFUO's warning that "Australian taxpayers may be funding both sides of russia's war on Ukraine."

We thank these journalists for amplifying our community's voice.

🏛️ The solution is on the table. In August, the Senate inquiry report recommended that sanctions loopholes be closed and that Australia better align with its allies.

The EU and UK have already acted: the EU's ban on fuel refined from russian crude in third countries took effect in January, and the UK is phasing in its full ban by 1 January 2027.

The Government says it will respond to the Senate report "in due course." We call on the Australian Government to respond without delay and to close the blood oil sanctions loophole immediately, thereby cutting off financing to the russian war machine. Every shipment of russian-derived fuel costs innocent Ukrainian lives 🇺🇦

🔗 Links to both articles - in the article in Bio.

#StandWithUkraine #BloodOil #StopFuellingrussiasWar #AFUO by @ozeukes

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18 days ago