Ukrainian scholars express fears for survival of their country at UNC virtual event

Among the Ukrainian speakers were sociologist Tymofii Brik, security expert Anna Bulach, former minister of economy Tymofii Mylovanov and Natalia Shapoval, a director of policy research in Ukraine.

Some of the speakers spoke from inside the war-torn country.

"I’m talking now from my apartment in Kyev," Brik said.

The sociologist said he is relatively safe, but he and his girlfriend are close to a bomb shelter.

The two of them volunteer to walk around the neighborhood checking for saboteurs.

"And even though I am in a relatively safe neighborhood, there are many citizen towns that are not," Brik said.

He and other Ukrainian scholars brought that reality of war to the virtual conference. They provided their expert opinions and expressed their personal desires to get more help from western nations.

"We have to win this," Mylovanov said.

He and the other Ukrainian speakers want those nations to help enforce a "No Fly Zone" in the country. Mylovanov believes the west fears provoking Russia.

"How much more do you need to provoke Russia?" Mylovanov said. "They’ve been shooting today at the nuclear power plant. They demonstrate and public(ly) execute to make example, several people in some cites just in front of the crowds."

He said too often friendly nations offer help but too little, too late.

"Current strategy hasn’t worked," Mylovanov said. "Sanctions haven’t worked."

Ukrainian security specialist Anna Bulach believes they are just the first on Russia’s list of targets.

"Europe has to understand that Ukraine is fighting Europe’s war," Bulach said.

The Ukrainian voices at the virtual event say their people have proven they are willing to fight and sacrifice for their country.

"We are pretty sure that we will win this war because we are totally right and we are fighting against evil," Shapoval said.

Ukraine’s Alexandra Hryka expressed suspicions about some small organizations who receive large international grants.

"I interviewed chiefs of party of large humanitarian organizations who lived in $500-a-night hotels for months," she said.

Hryka asked that more donations be given to volunteer led Ukrainian organizations.