Ukrainian Canadians Assaulted at Oilers game

UCC – APC/UCC National.

UCC calls upon Edmonton Police to investigate attack as hate crime

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council (UCC-APC) and Ukrainian Canadian Congress National (UCC) are disturbed by the violent attack against Ukrainian Canadians that took place following the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey game on March 9. UCC-APC and UCC call on the Edmonton Police to investigate this attack as a hate crime.

Following the Oilers game, where the 50/50 draw was dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian Canadian community’s humanitarian relief efforts, a group of our community members were taking photos outside the arena. They were adorned with Ukrainian flags and other Ukrainian symbols.

The Ukrainian community members were assaulted by a group of men, who spoke and yelled in Russian, who began to assault them, throwing punches, kicks and grabbing by the neck.

“This was an attack on a group of people simply posing for a photo. Russia is waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. We were showing our support for Ukraine, and we were assaulted because of it,” stated Orysia Boychuk, President of UCC-APC, who was part of the group that was assaulted. “We will never be intimidated by cowards who turn to violence to try to silence us.”

Individuals have been arrested and UCC-APC working closely with Rogers Place on this matter.

Report hate crimes, violence and vandalism against Ukrainians
As Russia wages a genocidal war against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has been notified of incidents of violence and vandalism targeting members of our community in Canada. These attacks on our community are motivated by hate and must be reported to and investigated by law enforcement agencies.

If you become a victim of such an attack, we urge you to:
1. Immediately contact your local Police department and file a police report
2. Forward a copy of the police report to: [email protected].

Please also report to the police and then forward any hate mail or threatening messages you may receive electronically, through the post or other means. You can report these to the following email: [email protected]

We will not be intimidated by cowards who hate Canada, Ukraine, our freedoms and our way of life.

Help us protect our community!

Share on Social Media