By Gretchen Webster

The brutal situation in Ukraine is disturbing to most everyone across the country and the world. But to two Westport men with roots in Ukraine, it is especially painful.

And that’s why they’re doing what they can to help.

Stephan Taranko, who was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. as a young teenager, and Mark Yurkiw, who was born here, but whose first language was Ukrainian, feel despondent at the current situation in that country.

“How do you act, and what do you do?” Yurkiw said of his feeling of helplessness. Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, “has made it clear that he’s willing to kill as many civilians as he has to.”

Ukraine War Affects Everyone

“If you think Ukraine hasn’t already affected you — think again,” he said.

Yurkiw’s parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 and settled in New York City’s East Village. Although he was born and raised here, he’s fluent in the Ukrainian language, and also attended a Ukrainian culture and language school as a child.

While he feels pessimistic about the situation in his family’s home country, he said that at least taking action is better than doing nothing.

Among other projects to help Ukrainians, Yurkiw has arranged for surplus firefighting equipment from the Westport Fire Department to be shipped there.

“I finally made the connections I needed to get $40,000 worth of firefighting gear to get to Ukraine next week.” he said.

Medical Supplies Needed

Taranko, meanwhile, is working to encourage people to gather much-needed medical supplies for Ukraine. He has arranged for his cousin to receive goods at her office, where she packs and sends them to his native country.

He urges people who want to donate not to send money, since goods are not available to buy there, but instead to form groups to collect needed items to send. He and his cousin have created this “wish list” through Amazon for donations.

“Money over there is basically useless since the needed products are not available and you cannot use dollar bills to stop bleeding,” Taranko said.

He’s upset that some of his family members — like many other Ukrainians — are refusing to leave their country, facing horrendous risk to remain.

Ukrainians Refuse to Flee

“My cousin is a schoolteacher,” he said. “She doesn’t want to leave. She’s going to fight until the death.”

Both men have participated in local protests and rallies supporting Ukraine, including one held at Jesup Green on March 5, and another on the Ruth Steinkraus Bridge on March 26.

“I’m a little bit disappointed in the Russian people,” Taranko said, “that they are not in the streets by the thousands protesting.”

Next up, Yurkiw has arranged for an expert on Ukraine, Professor Wolodymyr Zaryckyj, executive director of the Center for US-Ukrainian Relations, to speak at The Westport Library on Monday, May 9.
The talk, “Understanding Ukraine: Past, Present and Future,” will discuss some of Ukraine’s history, geography, and the reasons for the Russian invasion.

Torenko said that while he hopes the arrangements they and others are making to help Ukraine through donations is having a positive impact, he’s concerned it’s not nearly enough in the face of Putin’s power and brutality.

“We’re putting a Band-aid on a life-threatening injury when they need a tourniquet,” he said.

Gretchen Webster is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Westport Journal. To learn more click here.