Russian pair dig deep for Ukrainians

A Russian couple in Canterbury is organising an online fundraiser to help Ukrainians because it is the ‘‘right thing to do’’.

Christchurch husband and wife Maxim and Sasha will host an online gaming session on Sunday where they will ask those invited to donate money to help the people of Ukraine. The couple have already donated money to help those suffering from the effects of war but want to do more, because they believe Russia’s invasion is wrong.

Unwilling to reveal their last names because they fear retaliation if they return to their home country, Maxim says anyone who speaks out against the war faces persecution, with jail sentences of up to 15 years.

According to independent Russian human rights monitoring group OVD-Info, more than 750 people have been arrested during demonstrations in 37 cities across Russia for protesting against the invasion.

Maxim said his friends and family in Russia do not agree with the war but keep their sentiments to themselves for fear of winding up in prison, especially after the Kremlin passed a law on March 4 criminalising independent war reporting and protests. With relatives in Russia-occupied Crimea and the besieged city of Mariupol, Maxim has ties to both countries and holds a Russian passport, although he is applying for New Zealand citizenship.