When there is conflict between nations, there are divisions within families, something that has become glaringly apparent in Russia's attack against Ukraine.

The two countries have huge cultural ties, and many people in both countries speak both Ukrainian and Russian, or have family members on either side of the border.

This weekend, a group of Russian ex-pats gathered in the old square of Krakow, Poland to protest against the war.

A young woman at the rally told CTV National News鈥� Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme that to her, patriotism does not mean agreeing with the government鈥檚 actions.

鈥淔or me it鈥檚 about love to my country, not to my government,鈥� Valaria said.

She called the war 鈥渄isgusting.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a crime, it鈥檚 a crime against Ukrainians, a crime against Russian people,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y people, my family, my friends, my relatives, my country.鈥�

Her own family, she says, support Putin鈥檚 actions, believing the false story from the Russian state that casts Ukraine as the aggressor of the conflict and Russia as the hero.

Valaria has tried to explain to her family what is actually occurring, and why she opposes Russia鈥檚 invasion, but it has been hard to get through.

The bombing of Kharkiv, a city her mother knew and loved, was the final straw.

On Tuesday morning, Russian military struck the centre of Ukraine鈥檚 second-largest city, killing at least six people.

鈥淚 write her that: 鈥楳om, you know, Russia bombed Kharkiv,鈥� and she answers me that 鈥極ur media says it鈥檚 Ukraine forces,鈥欌�� Valaria said.

鈥淗er position just broke my heart. I decided, no, I cannot bear it. It鈥檚 like you鈥檙e on the one side and it鈥檚 a great wall between your family.鈥�

At the protest against Russia鈥檚 actions, protesters chanted, 鈥淎 big man, a bad man,鈥� in Russian.

Several members of the crowd carried a blue and white striped flag, a symbolic version of the Russian flag, which normally has a red stripe on the bottom.

The protesters said Putin had destroyed their flag, so they changed it by rubbing out the red.

鈥淲e decided we can just take our Russian flag and just wash it from all this blood and just have this blue-white flag,鈥� Valaria said.

For Valaria, visiting Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine -- which has been under attack for more than a week -- was as common as a Canadian visiting Florida.

鈥淚t鈥檚 green, it鈥檚 beautiful,鈥� she said. When she tried to continue to describe the city, she began to cry, and had to turn away. 

------

Get in touch

Are you in Ukraine? Do you have family in Ukraine? Are you or your family affected? Email dotcom@bellmedia.ca.

  • Please include your name, location, and contact information if you are willing to speak to a journalist with 麻豆影视.
  • Your comments may be used in a CTVNews.ca story.