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Tymofii Postoiuk and his companions launched an internet campaign to raise funds for Ukraine, resulting in a surge of contributions from various parts of the world. The money was used to acquire necessary equipment for the Ukrainian military.
As the conflict with Russia continued and exhaustion from war set in, the contributions decreased. However, funds continued to arrive consistently. Then, on October 7th, the Israel-Hamas war erupted.
At the onset of a new significant dispute, popular social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) were bombarded with updates and information from the Middle East. Postoiuk expressed frustration that their donation requests and updates were easily overlooked among the flood of tweets.
The outcome has led to a widespread change in focus from Ukraine to the conflict in Gaza – a concerning trend for many Ukrainians. They are concerned that a mixture of worldwide weariness, conflicting political interests, and scarce resources will lead to reduced support for their armed forces, hindering the nation’s ability to maintain its standoff with Russia.
“The longer we discuss our conflict, the less appealing it becomes to the public,” stated 21-year-old Ivan Mahuriak from Lviv, located in western Ukraine. Similar to other Ukrainians, he believes that the international community lost interest in the war in Ukraine even before the recent Hamas attack on Israel.
According to him, the exhaustion stems from the decreased activity on the ground, in contrast to 2022 when Ukrainian military successfully expelled Russians from multiple regions.
“He stated that in certain areas, there is a lull in the fighting. However, this does not indicate a lack of activity,” he explained. His sibling, two cousins, multiple coworkers, and friends are currently serving in the Ukrainian military and actively engaging with Russian forces.
The highly publicized pushback of this year, which began in June, has been moving at a significantly slower rate. Ukrainian soldiers are facing challenges in removing Russian forces who have taken control of the territory. Political battles in Washington are putting additional U.S. aid for Ukraine at risk, as the new conflict demands attention from top officials.
Disagreements regarding Ukraine have also surfaced within the European Union, as it acknowledges its inability to fulfill its commitments to provide all necessary supplies. Recent EU summits and other international gatherings have shifted their attention towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
President Joe Biden of the United States has emphasized the importance of supporting both Israel and Ukraine, stating that they are crucial for national security. On November 8, the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, visited Ukraine in an official capacity to demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the U.S. towards Ukraine.
“I am here to show that, along with our deep concern for events in the Middle East, we are just as dedicated and committed to Ukraine. This is evident as I stand outside St. Michael’s Church in Kyiv.”
However, a large number of Ukrainians are feeling concerned.
In November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his recognition of people’s exhaustion. During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he acknowledged, “Yes, many individuals around the world are feeling tired.”
The conflict in the Middle East can also benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin by shifting attention away from Ukraine.
“Zelenskyy also mentioned that Russia is pleased with the ongoing war.”
The knowledge that the war started by Russia in Ukraine is far from over weighs heavily on millions of Ukrainians.
Zoya Krasovska, a 34-year-old resident of Lviv, expressed her readiness for the possibility that this war will continue for the rest of her life. She is concerned that resources may be redirected to other conflicts, which is her biggest fear.
Krasovska compared it to being diagnosed with a permanent illness. You continue living, but are constantly aware that it will always be with you.
In contrast to 2022, when morale remained strong despite issues with power outages, interrupted water supply, and blackouts, Ukrainians are currently dealing with the disappointment of a slow counteroffensive and a lack of advanced weaponry. There is now a greater emphasis on domestic politics.
Postoiuk, a development manager for the Way to Ukraine fund based in the Netherlands, stated that the team had anticipated a decrease in donations, but not to such a severe degree. Due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, it now takes twice as long to gather sufficient funds to purchase a car for the army, which typically costs between $8,000 and $14,000.
They have gathered around $147,000 through their efforts, which has funded 13 brigades and supplied them with vehicles such as 15 pickups, three SUVs, an ambulance, and a drone.
According to him, this is the first instance where donations originating from within Ukraine have surpassed those from foreign sources in the history of the fund.
He stated that Ukraine’s fight for independence is no longer a priority, at least for the time being.
Ivan Bezdudnyi, a 26-year-old from Kyiv, is deeply affected by the conflict in his country. Over the last two years, he has dedicated himself to recording and exposing Russian war atrocities. Despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, his personal circumstances have remained largely unchanged.
He is not concerned about the impact of declining interest on Ukraine’s war in the long term.
“After the initial surge of interest in Israel and Hamas dies down, which I believe won’t be sustained for long… the amount of focus we received will persist,” he stated. “Perhaps not at the same level as February or March of last year, but likely higher than it currently is.”
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Lori Hinnant and Samya Kullab, writers for the Associated Press based in Paris and Kyiv, Ukraine, respectively, contributed to this report.
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Keep up with the latest news from AP on Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Source: independent.co.uk
