Posted at 6:00 a.m.
“I never thought I would experience this,” breathes Sylvain Longchamps, a native of Saint-Georges, in Beauce, who has lived in western Ukraine for a dozen years. At the other end of the line, the pork production consultant says he has a lot of admiration for the Ukrainians. The citizens are “ready to give their lives to defend their country”, says this direct witness of the “terrible” invasion of Russia.
“It seems to be in their blood, continues the Beauceron. It’s really David versus Goliath, but they don’t give up. »
This is the case of the wife of Mr. Longchamps, Oksana Krompashchyk, who refuses to leave. “She finds it very difficult, what happens to Ukraine, says the Beauceron. She would like to try to do something. The couple therefore decided to stay in the village where they live, near Lviv, about fifty kilometers from Poland. At least, for now.
We have two cars and we filled up with gas. Our suitcases are ready, we can leave in five minutes if things get tough.
Sylvain Longchamps, resident of a village near Lviv, Ukraine
The west of the country has so far been little affected by the attacks, reports Sylvain Longchamps, relieved. However, shelling was heard Thursday morning in the region. The consultant was then on the phone with one of his assistants on the way to a pig farm near a military base. “As he passed, it broke,” says the Quebecer. The man was fortunately not injured, but the “big explosion” was a shock.
The Quebecer finds it hard to believe what is happening to Ukraine. Until the last minute, he says, he believed that Vladimir Putin would not take action. “It is appalling what is happening. »
Queues at the border and gun shops
The border between Ukraine and Poland has been the scene of “chaotic” scenes in recent days, says Mr. Longchamps, who lives about sixty kilometers away. Residents of the areas most affected by the attacks flocked. “There were queues of cars crossing the border that were 20 to 30 km long,” he said.
PHOTO BRYAN WOOLSTON, REUTERS
Poles massed on the border with Ukraine, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, hold signs offering to the displaced people who fled the Russian invasion to transport them to destinations across the country.
Despite the situation, the Ukrainians remain calm, underlines Mr. Longchamps. “But people are afraid for their children and their families,” he said. They try to keep them away from danger. »
If the monster queues previously formed in front of gas stations, we now see them at the doors of armories and military recruitment offices. “There are many people who will offer to defend their country, even if they have not yet been called”, underlines the Beauceron. The latter saw thirty people massed in front of these places.
But many Ukrainians have already been called upon to fight. This is the case of three employees of the company for which Mr. Longchamps is a consultant, who had to leave early Friday morning. “When they tell you it’s your turn now, you have to show up immediately,” he says. It’s going pretty fast. “Since then, the Beauceron has had no news of them. And continuing to manage pig farms, in such a context, is not an easy task, he underlines.
Bruno Martin, another Quebecer in Ukraine, says that citizens living in the countryside are surging towards Kiev, to defend the capital. “They only have hunting rifles, when they need heavy weapons,” he insists, speaking of assault rifles. Canada must send weapons to the Ukrainians, he implores.