In 2014, forces backed by the Russian government invaded Ukraine. Since then, Russian authorities have illegally imprisoned at least 70 Ukrainians. These officials have ignored all demands from the international community to negotiate the freedom of these prisoners. Accordingly, the national Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK) has initiated a campaign, “Postcards for Political Prisoners”, whereby postcards are sent as an act of solidarity to political prisoners being held in Russia.
As part of the campaign, the University of Saskatchewan Ukrainian Students’ Association (USUSA) is leading this initiative on the University of Saskatchewan campus, visiting classrooms and spreading awareness of these and other human rights violations at various student-based and Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage events. The campaign continues throughout the months of February, March, and early April.