Foreign aid to Ukraine remains vital if Ukraine is to continue to repel Russian forces, according to a 45-year-old Ukrainian living on the island.

The war recently reached a significant milestone — 1,000 days since Russian troops invaded its neighbour, a sovereign state that had once been a part of the Soviet Union.

As soon as Russia launched its offensive from the east on February 24, 2022, Ukranians in Bermuda also began to mobilise.

About half the 50-strong Ukrainian community on the island gathered at City Hall to draw attention here to the war zone thousands of miles away and to highlight Russian aggression.

Fundraising campaigns were launched, with Bermudians eventually donating almost $550,000 to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal by the end of 2022.

Island authorities were also able to assist. Sanctions resulted in almost $220 million of Russian assets on the island being seized. Eight months after the war started, Russia placed Bermuda on its list of unfriendly countries.

For Bermuda resident Lana Bull, foreign aid — be it weapons or funding — is vital for Ukraine to keep on repelling Russian attacks.

Ms Bull, originally from Odesa in the south-west of Ukraine, said that without outside help, the war would have ended in a matter of days.

She said: “We have to remember who we’re fighting against. Russia was the second strongest army in the world and it’s a miracle that we are still fighting.

“But we still need more in international support. Without that I think the war would be over in a matter of days.”

Ms Bull has lived in Bermuda for almost 20 years and last visited her family in Odesa last September.

Although the city is not on the front line of the fighting, it is well within range of Russian missiles.

Describing her trip home, Ms Bull said: “Thankfully my family are not close to the fighting but there are air raids. I was there for a few weeks and had to spend a lot of time in bomb shelters.

“There were normally several air raids every day. One air raid was absolutely devastating, causing a great deal of damage.”

Ms Bull’s brother sent her video footage of what was left of his van after it had been badly damaged in a missile attack.

“The hardships that people are facing are the lack of power, which means there is no heating or running water, and, with winter approaching, no heating.

“There’s also disruptions to general life. My mother went into town to run some errands and ended up spending three hours in a bomb shelter.

“People are trying to just get on with their lives. Somehow businesses are still functioning, despite the difficulties.

“Human beings are very resilient and can adapt to anything. So people are just going about their business hoping that they don’t get killed.

“We are so lucky living in Bermuda — it’s like being in paradise. We’re very secluded, have beautiful weather and scenery, and the people are so nice and polite. Compare that to being out in Ukraine?”

Sadly, Ms Bull does not think the war will end.

“Peace negotiations are not about territory. Putin and his team don’t want territory, they just don’t want Ukraine to exist under the current system,“ she said.

“Ukraine is seen as a threat to the Russian regime because we have democracy and free elections. That’s a very dangerous model for Russia to have next door to them.

“So I don’t think Russia will ever call for peace until it removes the current Ukraine government and political system.

“We are fighting for our right to be a sovereign state that elects its own president. In Ukraine we value human life. Your voice counts, your life matters. Russia thinks that human life is worth nothing.

“Russia is being supported by North Korean troops, Iranian drones, and Chinese ammunition. So this is a war between democracies and dictatorships.

“The most important message for Bermuda to know is that this isn’t just Putin’s war. Yes, he has initiated things, but it takes a ministry of defence, a military … the Russian army is attracting 20,000 volunteers a month by offering large salaries.

“So even if Putin was taken out tomorrow, the war wouldn’t stop because there are so many like-minded people in Russia who have the same goal as him.“

Despite that pessimistic view, Ms Bull does have reason to be hopeful for her country’s long-term future.

Pointing out that there have been tensions — and occasional flare-ups — between Ukraine and its giant neighbour for more than 100 years, Ms Bull said: “We may have lost one fifth of our territory in the current conflict, but we still have our president, and as long as there is blue and yellow in Ukraine then we’re still here. So in some ways we have already won this war.”

• Bermuda residents wishing to make donations to the Ukraine cause can do so through the Ukrainian Heroes charitable foundation, which provides protective gear, vehicular support, tactical medical equipment and provisions for Ukrainian conscripts. For more information click here.