Diana Shypula finds it increasingly hard to go to bed each night, wondering if the next day’s phone call to her native Ukraine will find her family still alive.
Born in Ukraine in 1985, Shypula came to Australia nine years ago, initially on a student visa.
After obtaining qualifications in photography at TAFE (to add to qualifications already obtained in Ukraine), she now runs her own photography and videography business on the Central Coast.
“Something inside was calling me to try something I had never done before,” she said of her decision to relocate to Australia.
“I sold my property in Ukraine to pay for my education here.”
Along with the rest of the world, Shypula has watched the escalating Russian invasion of Ukraine in recent weeks at first with incredulity and then with growing anger and concern.
With friends in the capital city of Kiyv and family in the town of Zoporizhzhya, she has been in constant contact since hostilities began.
“My mother, father, step-mother, brother and sister-in-law all live in Zoporizhzhya,” she said.
“Although the town has not yet been attacked, everyone but essential workers has been told to stay home as much as possible.
“My mother spent one night in the basement of her apartment building – there are no bomb shelters there – with limited provisions and electricity in a very cold winter, before my brother collected her to stay with them.
“People who can work from home are trying to, but I can’t imagine what it must be like for them to be hearing bombs in the distance 24 hours a day.
“Essential services like grocery stores, petrol stations and pharmacies are open but there are transportation supply issues.
“My family is very frightened but also very angry.”
Shypula said Ukrainians were paralysed with shock when the invasion began.
“Many people have a friend or family member living in Russia – no one really believed it was possible,” she said.
“They were all in shock when the first attacks on Kiyv and along the border began.
“The next day they were realising this was real and looking for places to run to.
“People all over Ukraine are buying candles, matches and emergency supplies and taping their windows to prepare for what might come.
“One day my mother was outside, going to the grocery store when she heard a huge explosion.
“She later found out it was a Russian helicopter being hit by the Ukrainian air force just two kilometres away.
“The people are very, very angry.
“My father is baking pies to distribute to those on patrol and making Molotov cocktails at home in preparation.
“But the people have very high hopes that Ukraine will get military support from the rest of the world and fight off the attack.
“They are prepared to fight with their hands.
“I wanted my family to try to get to Australia but they refuse to leave.”
Shypula has lost contact with her best friend, who fled Kiyv with her husband and seven-year-old daughter for a small village where no communications are available.
“I have no way of finding out exactly where she is or if she is safe,” Shypula said.
“I talk to my family three times every day but it’s very hard going to bed without knowing if I will be able to hear their voices in the morning.”
Shypula said her husband, who is Russian, has been extremely supportive and has accompanied her to anti-Putin rallies in Sydney since the drama began.
Donations to the Ukrainian war effort can be made at https://uahelp.monobank.ua/.
Terry Collins