Why They Fight In Ukraine

Northport NY

24 March, 2022

9:15 PM

Description

between the Austrian army and the Russian army of Cossacks, the Russians occupied this Carpathian mountain town . My grandmother Blanche, dictated her biography to my mother . " The Russians plundered and raped woman and young girls. Her mountain house was used as a hiding place because it was out of the way. The Cossacks took many people away including young boys and girls. The Russians robbed her family's property and took away 5 barrels of petroleum, 4 cows , a horse and 50 chickens and ducks. Town Hall was burned. When the Cossacks came back to their mountain home to plunder or worse, the father prepared each child with a home style weapon :a hammer :a chopping knife , a pliers and other items. The father held onto the iron pound measurements used to weigh sugar and flour and used it when the Cossacks began shooting in the house. The children slept in their clothes and took down a wall so they were all together, but were afraid to sleep. Blanche explained that her home was "among the causalities of warfare because a cannonball ripped off a corner of the house and roof." Cannonball explosions were everywhere. After a few weeks, they took away her father and others to Kiev, which was inside Russia on the 1914 maps. The mayor raised money to bribe the Russians to buy the freedom of the towns folk but the Russians refused and used the politcal prisoners as hostages. The Red Cross delivered letters to the families as time went on. When the second battle was brewing the children and their grandmother fled to a section of Poland. Eventually the Austrian army took back the town .The Russian army was gone. and the town folk returned to what was left of their town. The Austrian army general ordered the Russian prisoners to do repairs in the town . Blanche and her sister emigrated legally to Cleveland, Ohio and they was grateful everyday to be here. The Northport Chamber of Commerce is hosting a donation drive to help Ukrainians who are impacted by the Russian invasion of their country. The drive is set to run through April 5. Drop off spots include: Coach Realtors: 66 Gilbert St., Northport.Copenhagen Bakery: 75 Woodbine Ave., Northport.Cow Harbor Realty: 67 Main St., Northport.Dr. Ron Iannacone: 482 Main St., Northport.