(Transcript from World News Radio)
More than 200 members of the Ukrainian Australian community have taken to the streets of Melbourne to protest against the Russian military's presence in the Crimea region of Ukraine.
The rally demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Crimea, with those attending expressing concern for friends and relatives.
Michael Kenny, with this report by Adeshola Ore.
"Russian troops out of Ukraine! Russian troops out of Ukraine! Russian troops out of Ukraine! Russian troops out of Ukraine! Russian troops out of Ukraine!"
The Melbourne rally was organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria.
Liana Slipetsky from the Association describes the Russian military's movement in Crimea as an "unprovoked invasion".
She dismisses Russia's explanation that the troops are in Crimea to protect Russian-speakers.
"What we're saying is this has been an unprovoked invasion of a territory in Ukraine, the Crimea. The Russian government are saying they are sending in troops to protect its citizens. There are a lot of ethnic Russians living in Crimea, about 60 per cent. However the question the Ukraine community in Australia is asking and indeed the world is asking, protecting them from what? There has been absolutely no threat. In fact Ukranians only want to be unified and this is partly why are here for our protest today."
Liana Slipetsky says Ukrainian Australians were encouraged by the departure from Ukraine of the Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych, after deadly protests in the capital, Kiev.
But she says they've been dismayed by Mr Yanukovych's re-appearance in Russia, and the decision of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops into Crimea.
"We are not sure what Putin is capable of. Crimea today, the rest of the East tomorrow. For us it's Putin's attempt at re-branding the Soviet Union. The whole world is watching him. I look at it as though it's a child misbehaving, his parents are telling him he shouldn't be doing it and he's continuing. The Ukraine community in Australia is absolutely horrified. We're frightened. Two weeks ago we thought we had a little glimmer of hope when ousted the corrupt President Yanukovych and a very democratic pro-Western parliament was set up in Ukraine and they started organising themselves and now this happened."
Russian forces have surrounded Ukrainian military bases across Crimea, and armed men believed to be under Moscow's orders last week seized key government buildings and airports in the region.
Those at the rally said the Russian actions in Crimea were unacceptable.
"Crimea is Ukraine! Crimea is Ukraine! Crimea is Ukraine! Crimea is Ukraine!"
Professor of Ukrainian Studies at Monash University, Marko Pavlyshyn, says the whole world should be concerned about Russia's military involvement in Crimea and other developments in Ukraine.
"Russia's actions in the Crimea are in clear breach of international law. It's an affront against the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine. It's a threat to the independence of Ukraine. It's a threat to the European peaceful order. It threatens Ukraine. It threatens citizens of Russia just as much. And it could land the whole world in another Cold War."
Among the younger people at the Melbourne protest was Sophia from Geelong.
"Basically, we've come down to support the pro-European, pro-West Ukrainians. Obviously with what's going on with the Russian military, it's an invasion, it's an invasion of Ukraine's sovereignty and damages its territorial integrity and yeah, it just shouldn't happen."
One man, Eugene, who was in Ukraine last month, says he's hoping the Melbourne rally will send a message to the ousted Ukrainian President.
"What we're looking for is we need as many protests as possible around the world. It needs to be made clear through peaceful methods that we can change the course of a dictator, who is not only a dictator but he's also a thief, he's a brute, and he has no sympathy for human kind, whether it's his own people or any other people around the world."
Liana Slipetsky from the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria says the Australian government should be doing more to try to put pressure on Russia.
"We have been lobbying our local governments and ministers. Tony Abbott condemned Russia's unprovoked aggression in Ukraine and demanded it withdraw its forces from Crimea, but it's a little bit too late. We want the Australian government to actually invoke sanctions. As of today we have found out that a visit to Russia by the Trade Minister Andrew Robb scheduled for next week has been cancelled. That's the kind of action we want. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called in the Russian Ambassador Vladimir Morozov and asked him what Russia was doing in Ukraine. He responded that Russia was doing nothing wrong. And that's not acceptable. We're asking the Australian government to take another step and expel the ambassador."
