[Report] "Our People Are Strong" Anger of a Ukrainian Youth Met at Dongdaemun's 'Russia Street'

Russian Forces Bomb Residential Areas in Kharkiv, Ukraine... De Facto Civilian Massacre
"Russia, Stop Invasion and Seek Peaceful Resolution," Global Calls to End War
Ukrainian Youth Met on 'Russia Street' Say "Putin's Biggest Mistake... Hope People Endure Well"

Jungang Asia Street in Gwanghui-dong, Seoul. On this day (the 28th of last month), a Ukrainian youth met on this street expressed strong anger toward Russia. He appealed for an end to the war and urged his fellow citizens to stay strong and endure these difficult times. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporters Kang Woo-seok and Kim Jeong-wan] "I hope the people of Ukraine endure with strong spirit."

On the 28th (local time), the fifth day of the Russian invasion, Russian forces bombed civilian residential areas in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. It is known that they used Grad multiple rocket launchers and cluster munitions banned by the UN. Cluster munitions are bombs containing smaller bombs inside. They are representative inhumane weapons intended to cause mass casualties. It was essentially a massacre of civilians.

Videos revealing the horrific scenes began to appear one after another on social networking services such as Twitter and Facebook. Explosions echoed from all directions throughout the city, scenes of bodies scattered outside bombed apartments, and fires caused by the bombings were also captured.

On the same day, when Ukraine was engulfed in screams, wails, and flames, Dongdaemun's Russia-Mongolia Town showed a calm appearance. This alley is a street located between Euljiro 6-ga and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on subway lines 2 and 5 in Seoul, officially named Gwanghui-dong Central Asia Street.

Before and after establishing diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Union in 1990, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Mongolians from this area began to gather here. Most shop signs, including Samarkand restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and Russian bakeries, are written in Russian Cyrillic rather than Hangul. It is commonly called Dongdaemun Russia Street.

As expected in a street frequented by many foreigners, there are currency exchange booths everywhere. In the photo, the top right corner of the currency exchange booth reads "Russia Currency Exchange." Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

However, unlike the quiet street, a Ukrainian man in his mid-20s whom we met in an alley expressed his anger passionately as if he had a lot to say to Russia, despite the sudden questions from the press. His expression was resolute, as if he wanted to immediately run to Ukraine, pick up a rifle, and protect his fellow citizens.

He spoke calmly but firmly, raising his voice, "I am Ukrainian. Putin's biggest mistake is against Ukraine." He continued, "Neither Russia nor Ukraine supports this terrible and tragic war. Everyone hopes this war will end," and emphasized repeatedly, "I can no longer imagine Russia and Ukraine being together in any form. But war must not happen."

Along with this young man's anger, near the Russian Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, daily rallies condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine are held. Recently, about 100 people, including Ukrainians residing in Korea and Ukrainian expatriates, gathered, singing the Ukrainian national anthem with tears, mourning the deceased, and urging peaceful resolution.

A job placement center providing work opportunities for foreigners. Photo by Han Seunggon hsg@asiae.co.kr

While the whole world is angry and saddened, we tried to find out what Russians think by visiting almost every place in Gwanghui-dong, including grocery stores, marts, and employment agencies, but it was as if the Russians had evaporated; no trace of Russians could be found.

During this process, we visited an employment agency that provides jobs for foreigners, including Russians, to settle in Korea and were introduced to a Russian person. However, the office where we were told he was waiting was dark and firmly locked. We knocked and waited several times but could not meet him.

Eventually, when approaching people presumed to be Russians on the street to request interviews, we only saw young people hurrying away quickly. It seemed they had disappeared out of fear of being stigmatized as citizens of Russia, the perpetrator country of the war crimes.

Meanwhile, in Russia, anti-war protests against the invasion of Ukraine had surged but are reportedly decreasing due to strong government crackdowns. According to foreign media such as CNN, as of the 28th, nearly 6,000 people who participated in anti-war protests since Russia's invasion of Ukraine were arrested over four days.

The media cited the Russian human rights group 'OVD-Info,' reporting that since President Vladimir Putin ordered the advance into Ukraine on the 24th of last month, 5,942 people protesting against the war across Russia were detained as of the previous day.

According to OVD-Info, on the 27th alone, 2,802 people were arrested on charges of unauthorized protests in 57 Russian cities. Among them, 1,275 were taken in Moscow alone. Subsequently, due to strong control measures by Russian authorities, anti-war protests and gatherings have significantly decreased. Earlier, on the 24th of last month, the Russian Federal Investigative Committee warned that participation in anti-war protests was illegal.

On the 28th of last month, at the site of the "Joint Press Conference of Civil Society Urging Russia to Stop Its Invasion of Ukraine and Seek a Peaceful Resolution" held near the Russian Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Wooseok, intern reporter beedolll97@asiae.co.kr

While anti-war protests among Russian citizens have slowed, voices calling for an end to the war continue worldwide. At a press conference held near the Russian Embassy in Korea on the 28th, 392 civic groups, including 'World Without War,' participated, appealing, "War is an anti-human crime that causes catastrophic consequences," and urged, "Russia must immediately stop the invasion of Ukraine and withdraw its troops."

Ukrainian expatriate Kim Pyeong-won, who attended the rally, said, "Having lived in Ukraine for over 30 years, I never imagined Ukraine's territory would be so ravaged," and expressed frustration, "How can such brutal acts happen in a civilized society of the 21st century?"

Meanwhile, a U.S. government official mentioned the possibility of referring Russia to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes trials. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, appeared on CNN's weekly current affairs program 'State of the Union' on the 27th and, when asked whether President Putin should be considered a war criminal, replied, "They are the aggressors," according to Voice of America (VOA) on the 28th.

According to reports, Ambassador Greenfield emphasized, "They must be held accountable, and discussions should be held at the UN or elsewhere." Regarding the war crimes trial, she said, "I think everything is on the table." She added, "We are holding Russia accountable on all levels."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also urged the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, to investigate, stating that Russia's invasion "shows signs of genocide." President Zelenskyy said Russia's actions "deserve international trials" and that "we are documenting their war crimes." He also emphasized, "Without our brave defenders, more war crimes would have occurred."

In Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, on the 27th of last month (local time), a paramedic is performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a girl who was urgently brought into an ambulance with her father (left) after being injured in a residential area shelling. Photo by AP Yonhap News

However, despite these voices from the international community, Russia's invasion continues. On the 1st, Russian forces attacked broadcasting facilities in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and residential areas in Kharkiv, the second-largest city, causing many casualties, according to Ukrainian sources.

According to major foreign media, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Russia showed barbarity by bombing a TV broadcasting tower near the memorial site for victims of the 'Babyn Yar' massacre, a representative Nazi Jewish massacre during World War II.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on Twitter, "Russian forces attacked the TV tower near the Babyn Yar memorial site. Russia's barbaric crimes do not stop anywhere." It was reported that five Ukrainians died in the TV tower attack that day.

During World War II, on September 29-30, 1941, the Nazis brutally massacred about 34,000 Ukrainian Jews in the Babyn Yar ravine northwest of Kyiv.