Ukrainians living in the UAE are standing together in solidarity as they mark a third Christmas overshadowed by the spectre of war in their homeland.
Members of the community told The National it was “deeply painful” to experience the season with the conflict approaching the three-year mark. But they also emphasised that Ukraine had shown “extraordinary strength” over the past few years and its people still held out hope for peace.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. There are no indications that the Ukraine war will end anytime soon and the conflict is even showing signs of escalating.
Moscow's forces are advancing in the country at the fastest pace since the early days of the invasion and Russia controls a chunk of eastern Ukraine. The conflict is estimated to have so far killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Another harsh winter
“It is deeply painful knowing Ukraine is marking its third Christmas in a full-scale war,” said Yevheniy Semenov, 30, a Ukrainian resident in Abu Dhabi of more than 11 years and vice president of the Ukrainian World Congress.
“It has been a difficult winter with damage and blackouts, with many families celebrating by candlelight or not at all.”
Mr Semenov said there was immense sorrow in the UAE-based community for the lives lost, those separated from their families and the destruction caused by nearly three years of conflict.
“Yet there is a lot of brightness. In the face of this huge hardship Ukraine has shown extraordinary strength,” he said. "Christmas is a time of peace and joy but for us it is a season of resilience and hope. It is a moment to honour those who sacrificed everything and to reflect on the trials of those back home.”
It is thought there are up to 30,000 Ukrainians in the UAE, according to the Ukrainian Embassy, and the community is marking the festive season despite the war. The Ukrainian embassy is supporting several gatherings over the period, while many will attend Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church religious services at churches across the UAE on December 25.
Bringing the Christmas spirit
“Christmas is a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian community in the UAE to come together, demonstrate the indomitability of the Ukrainian spirit, faith in the victory of good and the restoration of a lasting, just peace in Ukraine,” said Vitaliy Fedianin, press secretary of Ukraine's embassy in the UAE.
“We are grateful to the UAE, which ensures high standards of tolerance and peaceful co-existence, for the opportunity to celebrate Christmas, as well as for its humanitarian support to Ukraine.”
Members of the community also gathered at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi last Saturday for “Rizdvo – Ukrainian Christmas Day in the Park” with many wearing traditional vyshyvanka embroidery.
The event was attended by other nationalities and it highlighted the rich cultural tapestry of the country. Ukrainians showcased their traditions with carols, workshops and the appearance of Ukrainian Santa, or Sviatyi Mykola (St Nicholas). Rizdvo is the Ukrainian word for Christmas.
“Even in a warm Emirati winter, we can bring some of Ukraine’s Christmas spirit to families here,” said Mr Semenov, contrasting the weather here to Ukraine where it is typically very cold and snowy.
“By sharing our culture we are showing that no amount of darkness can erase the light of who we are.”
Preserving rich traditions
Oksana Svyripa, a Ukrainian resident of Dubai who also attended, said it was important to preserve the traditions and identity of Ukrainians.
“We feel deep sorrow over the devastating war in Ukraine, which is claiming the lives of our people yet also immense pride in our identity as Ukrainians,” said Ms Svyripa, 33, who has been in the UAE for close to three years and is from the Volyn region of north-west Ukraine near the city of Novovolynsk.
“The greatest dream and hope is that Ukraine will triumph and serve as a symbol of unyielding spirit, resilience and faith for all humanity.”
Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian fuel depot for the second time in just over a week on Sunday. It came after Russia launched massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid, which threatened to plunge countless homes into darkness in winter.
Soldiers from North Korea are also believed to be deployed to the front lines. The continuing full-scale war is an escalation of a hybrid conflict that had continued since 2014.
Yevheniia Kryklyvets, 23, a volunteer at the Christmas event in the park, has relatives back in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. She carries out daily checks on a smartphone app that warns of air raids.
“We are very tense about what will happen,” said Ms Kryklyvets, who moved to the UAE in 2022. “We have lots of relatives there and it does not look promising. Blackouts can reach 20 hours a day in winter.”
Ms Kryklyvets said events such as the Christmas gathering were important in showing the world Ukraine has other stories to tell rather than just what one reads in the news.
“We are doing our best to keep talking about Ukraine,” she said. “We have so much we want to tell the world.”
Mr Semenov is from a part of Ukraine called Chernivtsi, close to the border with Romania, where his mother, sister and other family members remain.
While it is far from the front lines, there is constant concern among Ukrainians for those back home.
“They are as OK as they can be,” he said, regarding his family. “Our region is relatively safe – but there is no safe place in Ukraine.”
Despite the trauma of war, the main hope in the community was for a just and lasting peace not just for Ukraine but all affected by turmoil and conflict.
“We wish everyone in Abu Dhabi and around the world a season of hope, unity and kindness,” said Mr Semenov. “And next Christmas will be hopefully one of peace for Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and all nations.”
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