Ukrainian expats want the U.S. to do more for friends and relatives fighting Russia
Just north of Miami, the upscale beachside community of Sunny Isles is home to large numbers of Russian and Ukrainian emigres. Some have been here for decades. Others, like Victoria Hotova have just arrived.
Hotova's daughter Anna is just ten months old. The two left their home in Kyiv last month, the day the Russian invasion began. They traveled by car to Munich, and then flew to Miami where Hotova's mother has a home. She's says she's happy to have gotten her daughter to safety.
"But all my family left is Ukraine, because my husband must protect our Ukraine, my grandmother, grandfather," she says. "That's why I can't sleep. And I must say nobody (helps) Ukraine."
Hotova spoke while draped in a Ukrainian flag, one of a few dozen at a rally in Sunny Isles who were asking the U.S. to step up its military assistance to their home country. Two Russians recently arrived from Moscow were also part of the demonstration. "We don't understand why Putin starts this war," said one of them, Andrei Elaenikov.
Elaenikov held a sign that said "Stop Putin" in Russian and English. He says he had to leave Moscow after a confrontation at a rally, when "(A) policeman in Russia (told) me 'Don't say war is war because it's not war.' But I understand this is war and I (don't) support this war."
Elaenikov says under a new law in Russia, he could be jailed for up to 15 years just for calling the invasion a war. He's not sure when he'll be able to return home.
Julia Lemesh is co-president of a Florida for Ukraine, a new group formed after the Russian invasion. She says there have been a few tense moments between Russians and Ukrainians, but for the most part she finds overwhelming support.
"People from different communities and diasporas, Byelorussian, Russian, Georgian, Armenian, they do come to support us," she says. "We are lucky to have a really strong community of different diasporas here in Sunny Isles."
Lemesh says she understands why the U.S. is reluctant to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. But her contacts with military forces in her home country tell her they desperately need more advanced weapons.
"I got a message...two hours ago," she says. "They are saying...we absolutely cannot protect with what the United States and other countries send us in terms of weapons. We really need advanced anti-aircraft warfare and at least fighter jets."
Her group is also sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In a small warehouse in nearby Hallandale Beach volunteers have been packing and shipping medical supplies, backpacks, sleeping bags, boots, and other gear to help Ukrainian fighters. The group's co-president, Raphael Nagli says they're directly working with humanitarian organizations in Ukraine.
"We (are) getting detailed lists from them what's most needed," Nagli says. "It's going to Poland. From there, our volunteers, our trusted volunteers, pick up those products and deliver to places where they're needed the most."
Nagli has a company that does business in Ukraine. His export license allows only humanitarian aid shipments, so this week the group sent supplies and several thousand dollars to help an organization evacuating wounded children from Ukraine.
But when his company comes across any paramilitary equipment — drones, helmets, tactical vests — they refer it to another group with the appropriate license. This week, Florida for Ukraine posted a note on social media from a military contact in Ukraine, thanking them for expediting a shipment that included medical supplies and three drones.
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Transcript
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
While Ukraine fights to repel the Russian invasion, Ukrainians in the United States are collecting humanitarian aid. They're sending it back home. Many also want the U.S. government to do more. Here's NPR's Greg Allen from Miami.
GREG ALLEN, BYLINE: Sunny Isles is an upscale beachside community north of Miami, known for its high-rise condominium towers and its large numbers of Russian and Ukrainian residents. Some have been here for decades. Others, like Victoria Hotova, have just arrived.
VICTORIA HOTOVA: Yes. I am Ukrainian. I come in here two weeks ago with my baby.
ALLEN: Hotova's daughter, Anna, is just ten weeks old. The two left their home in Kyiv last month when the invasion began. They traveled by car to Munich and then flew to Miami, where her mother has a home. She says she's happy to have gotten her daughter to safety.
HOTOVA: But all my family left in Ukraine because my husband must protect our Ukraine and my grandmother, grandfather. That's why I can't sleep. And I must say that nobody help Ukraine.
ALLEN: Hotova was draped in a Ukrainian flag. She was one of a few dozen at a recent rally who are asking the U.S. to do more. But it wasn't just Ukrainians.
ANDREI ELAENIKOV: We are Russians. And we don't understand why Putin started this war.
ALLEN: Andrei Elaenikov has just arrived from Russia. At the rally, he held a sign written in Russian and English. It said, stop Putin. He says he decided to leave Russia after a confrontation at a rally in Moscow.
ELAENIKOV: Policeman in Russia ask me, don't say war is war because it's not war. But I understand this is war. And I not support this war.
ALLEN: Elaenikov says under a new law in Russia, he could be jailed for 20 years just for calling the invasion a war. He's not sure when he'll be able to return home. Julia Lemesh is co-president of a new group formed after the Russian invasion, Florida for Ukraine. She says there have been a few incidents between Russians and Ukrainians in Sunny Isles. But for the most part, there is overwhelming support.
JULIA LEMESH: Everyone who comes to our rallies, like people from different communities and diasporas - Belarusian, Russian, Georgian, Armenian - they do come to support us. We are lucky to have a really strong community of different diasporas here in Sunny Isles.
ALLEN: Lemesh says she understands why the U.S. is reluctant to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. But she says her contacts with forces in her home country tell her that they desperately need more advanced weapons.
LEMESH: I got a message, like, 2 hours ago. They are saying, like, we absolutely cannot protect with what United States and other countries send us in terms of weapons. We really need advanced anti-aircraft warfare and at least fighter jets.
ALLEN: Her group is also sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In a warehouse recently, volunteers were busy packing boxes.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
ALLEN: Florida for Ukraine has been shipping medical supplies, backpacks, sleeping bags, boots and other gear to help Ukrainian fighters. The group's co-president, Raphael Nagli, says they're directly working with humanitarian organizations there.
RAPHAEL NAGLI: We are getting a detailed list from them, what's most needed. It's going to Poland. From there, our volunteers, who are trusted volunteers, pick up those products and deliver to places where they need it the most.
ALLEN: Nagli has a company that does business in Ukraine. His export license allows only humanitarian aid shipments. This week, he says, the group sent supplies and several thousand dollars to help an organization that's evacuating wounded children from Ukraine.
Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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