Interview with Arkady Belozovsky, Soviet Ukrainian-born American Jew

Alex (Daily Moth): Hello Arkady! I’m thrilled to interview you. Ever since the war in Ukraine started with the Russian invasion in February, you’ve been vlogging and sharing your raw feelings, the cities in Ukraine and the history behind them, and you’re still doing the videos and staying involved. Many people who watch you feel it’s a helpful guide for deaf people in the U.S. and around the world understand the situation better. I appreciate you sharing your heart in your vlogs lately. Can you describe your background from Ukraine? When did you move to America?

Arkady Belozovsky: First of all, I want to thank you Alex for inviting me to do an interview. Yes, it is an extremely sensitive topic that is not easy at all. Not just for me, but for everyone in the Ukrainian diaspora. Those who came to America and other countries, Canada, Europe, Australia, everywhere in the globe. So, who am I? I’m Arkady. I was born in Ukraine. I’m Jewish. I’m a third-generation Deaf person. When I was sixteen, my family — my parents, my sister, and myself — took refuge in America. I left on October 16, 1989. We finally got to the U.S. on February 14, 1990. It took us four months to navigate through refugee camps. What is going on right now is a similar situation.

Alex: There are now many people, both hearing and deaf, who have fled Ukraine to go to Europe. Some have gone to America and to Canada as well. You’ve been in touch with many deaf refugees and organizations. What are the common scenarios that you’ve seen?

Arkady: I want to add that the refugees are also going to Japan, Canada, and America. Really, they’re going everywhere all around the world. I know of five deaf Ukrainians who are in Japan. The common scenario that I’m seeing is deep trauma. They didn’t expect and are shocked that they’ve lost their homes. They also lost their second homes, called “Dacha.” It means a second home, a place to plant crops, a weekend getaway. They had cars and were building their lives. They became independent from the USSR only about 30 years ago. 31 years. So their lives are just being built and now they haven’t even finished with their first generation. They’re grieving and are uncertain about their future. Another common scenario is those who have CODA children who have to stay behind in Ukraine. Most of them are men who have been ordered to serve in the Ukrainian armed forces, those who are 18 to 60 years old. Some deaf people can’t leave because their husbands are hearing or some of their parents are hearing. There are many issues that are pulling families apart. There’s a lot of heavy feelings. Some deaf people have to stay in Ukraine for these reasons. They may have elders, such as mothers or grandparents, who are sick and need care. Some have financial difficulties and are unable to leave. They don’t understand why

Alex: You’ve been in touch with some Deaf Ukrainians or families or groups that are still there in Ukraine. They’re seeing scenes of war and are seeking shelter. So I’m wondering about the challenges that deaf people have to go through with no internet, communication access being cut off, but they’re still surviving. Can you recap what you’re seeing with Deaf Ukrainians who are still there?

Arkady: Deaf Ukrainians find it difficult to share information, yes. Most of them struggle with access to water. There’s also no heating. Disease is spreading easily with broken sewers. Some have to defecate in shelters because of the bombings, but the shelters do not have toilets. So the scent is terrible. There are many corpses nearby and they also smell terrible. That’s what they’re seeing. Also some of their family members or neighbors are dead so they have to bury them. There’s no official recognition of their names. Some bodies are unknown and have to be buried because they can’t just be left there with their stench. So those stories are distressing. I personally believe that in the future the bodies will be exhumed — such as when certain battles ended with Ukraine reclaiming its territory — they found new corpses. The same thing will continue to happen, all over.

Some Deaf people who have hearing families say they were told that they can’t move because they can’t hear the bombs. So they are told to stay in shelters. But some Deaf people said they can do it, so there’s a struggle. There are problems and some Deaf people have asked me what to do. It’s tough because I feel like their lives are based on my decisions. It will influence and impact their lives. It’s a huge burden to place on me. I have to figure it out. “Is your grandmother sick? How old is she? 90 years? Well, it may be time to say goodbye. She had a long life. How about yours?” Some have a difficult time so they have to analyze themselves instead of me telling them to make decisions such as leaving behind their grandmother. I have to figure it out, there are many situations.

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Alex: I’m thinking about the war — there was just a huge bombing at a shopping mall…

Arkady: Kremenchuk. This is how you sign it.

Alex: So that was hit.

Arkady: That region is in the Poltava Oblast. It was unexpected and stunned many people because the area was rarely hit.

Alex: Wow. So NATO is having a summit now and they’re inviting Sweden and Finland to become members. What are your feelings with the war and its future? Could the war be finished soon or will it last for two or three years? I’m curious about your feelings.

Arkady: The bombing that hit the shopping mall yesterday in Kremenchuk was seen by many people. But there are many other similar incidents. This was more impactful because there were over 1,000 people in the center and nobody thought it would happen there. The area is the largest place for food donation drives from deaf organizations. It is also where interpreters would provide videos and updates, filmed in Kremenchuk. So it was a shock because they were helping others and now it happened to them. It hit the deaf community especially hard as they knew of that small town.

So, with the U.N. — NATO — and the talk about having Sweden and Finland joining — that’s nice. Prior to this, Turkey refused to allow this, but now they are willing. Really, to go back in time, Ukraine has historically not wanted to join NATO. They didn’t see the purpose. Personally, I used to be against joining NATO. I didn’t understand why they wanted an expansion. I questioned their purpose and whom they were “against.” Russia? I felt it didn’t make any sense because we had the same language. I felt kinship with Russia until they invaded. My perspective completely changed. I felt heartbroken. And now I look at NATO and see that their intentions are to counter Russia and provide protection. I thought the NATO expansion had to do with the Middle East and questioned why they didn’t get involved with problems there. But now, with what’s happened to Ukraine, when we ask for help, NATO is saying, “We can’t do anything. You’re not a member.” They’re sending Ukraine weapons and things, but we have to use our own people to defend ourselves. If you want troops, then you have to join the international legion. The government of Ukraine has recognized the soldiers and it’s pissed off Russia because they don’t want any other countries to be involved. But how can we defend ourselves without them?

President Zelensky said, “I need ammunition, not a ride.” It means that America has offered him a safe ride out, but the president declined. That was a powerful statement to show to the world. Other countries’ leaders would have fled. But he refused to and stood his ground. That means that we need ammunition. That means we need to defend ourselves, instead of conquering. Just defense.

Will it get better in the future with NATO expansion? If NATO gets involved, then it will lead to World War III. That’s what I’m afraid of. We’re uneasy. Will the NATO expansion help things? No. It’ll get worse. There’s no right answer. There’s one thing — we have to ask for an end to the war with Russia. We have to tell them to take a time-out. We’ve got to sit down and talk. But that is doubtful to happen because they’ve already done so much damage. So there has to be a revolution with a victory. Period. Nobody can give you a perfect answer.

Alex: Thank you, Arkady! I really appreciate it.

Arkady: Thank you.