Escalating Tensions and Potential Conflict between Russia and Ukraine concerns Vegreville Resident

Escalating Tensions and Potential Conflict between Russia and Ukraine concerns Vegreville Resident

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Throughout history there has been oppression. That holds true of Russia and the Ukraine who share a long history of conflict, war, and famine. Once again, flaring tensions between the two countries that may very well spark an invasion.

Stephen Blanchette in front of his late grandparents’ home.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Vegreville resident Stephen Blanchette’s grandparents Pelagia and John Jacula immigrated to Canada in 1936. “They were fleeing Communist oppression. They fled here with my oldest aunt.”

Blanchette said his six other aunts and uncles as well as his mother Sophia grew up in the Warwick area northeast of Vegreville. “Sadly, they, (Baba and Didu) are no longer with us, but we try to keep our Ukrainian heritage alive as best we can.”

He noted that, “This cultural repression that Ukrainians have faced at the hands of the Russian government, whether communist, tsarist, or otherwise, has been one of the consistent themes of Ukrainian Identity. I don’t believe I am speaking out of turn when I say we Ukrainian Canadians count ourselves lucky that our ancestors made the decision to start anew in this land.

Original siding on the Jacula home.

(Blanchette Family/Submitted Photo)

This is clear when examining the continuation of this oppression in the current day. Russia is poised to escalate the conflict in Ukraine by feeding more ground forces, over 100,000, into the fray and all that they require is an excuse. This excuse will most likely take the form of Russia needing to step in and “protect” the ethnic Russian minority in Ukraine’s Donetsk Region from Ukrainian oppression and cultural violence…”

Now, Blanchette is left wondering what the West will do if Russia continues to escalate the conflict?

Is war imminent? Blanchette referred to a Jan. 19 press conference in which President Biden said pretty much everything short of that in his opinion.

Immigration photo of Pelagia and John Jacula with their niece Maria in 1936.

(Stephen Blanchette/Submitted Photo)

“He, (Biden) does believe that Russia is probably going to invade. The way he framed it was it’s not necessarily whether they are going to invade but what the form the invasion is going to take…All evidence is pointing that way. I can’t say for absolute certainty, but it’s very probable.”

Blanchette believes those provocations against Ukraine should not be tolerated by Canada and more must be done by the Federal Government. “Economic sanctions have not done the trick in the past, and it seems our government, and the West, hasn’t learned the greatest lesson from the 20th century: appeasement does not work.”

Family gathering in 1992 celebrating Pelagia’s 80th birthday.

(Blanchette Family/Submitted Photo)