The local community has come out in support of the owners of a North London deli and shop selling Russian goods after they received abuse following the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Borys and Viktoriya Shevchenko opened their shop, Gurman, by East Finchley station just four weeks ago before the start of the Russian invasion.
Since then, they tell MyLondon they have received abuse from customers who have assumed the shop is Russian as a result of the produce they sell and their signs. In one instance, a shop assistant at the store said a woman came in and questioned if they were a Russian shop and interrogated them as to why they had a Ukrainian flag displayed in the window. Borys said a confrontational exchange then took place before she eventually.
READ MORE: Belarusians in London ‘pained’ by Ukraine invasion criticise support of Russia and call war their ‘worst nightmare’
Viktoriya said the couple are constantly in touch with family back in Ukraine
(Image: MyLondon)
The couple, who are from Ukraine, speak Russian and cater for the Eastern European community with food products from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Georgia. “All these products are the same stock, the shop is Eastern European,” Borys explains.
“To be honest I’m just going to change the sign because there’s lots of confusion going on, he added. “It’s going on and on. The products and recipes are all the same.”
He explained since the start of the conflict over a week ago, there has been a knock on effect on business which he fears could continue. “What’s going on doesn’t help us and doesn’t help business,” he said. “This area lots of Russian people live and here support Ukraine but still they might not feel comfortable to come.”
Borys, 52, also said he has noticed some customers in recent days panic buying some items and stocking up for fears supplies of some goods might run out. “I’m not worried about supplies, but people are not shopping as they used to,” he explained.
The couple are asking people in the local community to support Ukraine
(Image: MyLondon)
Describing the support they have received in recent days he said the community has been welcoming and really supportive.
“Lots of people have come in come, English people supporting Ukraine, some support Russia, Ukrainians and Russians and we are in between all this. We just want to live our lives, we have been collecting donations to support Ukraine, Russian people have also come to support. I’m Ukranian and I’m supporting our country.” he added
Borys and his wife, came to London 20 years ago and also run another shop in Stratford catering for the Romanian community there. The couple, who have family and friends in the country, described the unfolding situation and news coming in from Ukraine in recent days.
“It’s like a bad dream, you just want to wake up, part of me still doesn’t believe this could be happening” Viktoriya said. Borys explains the couple have been in constant contact with their family back home “We want to know they are safe, we talk all the time. We try and be in touch, help them send money.
A ribbon outside the shop showing solidarity with Ukraine
(Image: MyLondon)
“I’ve got relatives in Kyiv, relatives fighting on the front line. People are dying everyday and it’s civilians, everyone is in shock.” he added.
He also described the strong feeling among those who have stayed behind. “All my friends don’t want to come here. They want to stay there, they say ‘it’s our country’,” he said.
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The couple do not know when they will be able to return to Ukraine, but are continuing to send support from London and are rallying together with the Eastern European community. In recent days there has been an outpouring of support from the local community with many taking to local Facebook groups.
One person said “Even if they were Russian, people are not responsible for what Putin is doing. I feel sad for both the Russians and Ukrainians at this time.”
Another said: “We are against war, we are supporting the people of Ukraine, helping as much as possible. I received so many negative comments and even threats it’s unbelievable.”
A third added “This is completely unnecessary and I’m surprised this happened in East Finchley where the community is diverse and one of the reasons I love living here.”
A fourth commented: “I’m sorry they’re getting abuse, Russian or no Russia. Hope they can get stock with all these sanctions”
While another added “I must say people are very narrow minded if they think they can abuse others for their nationality. Even if they were Russian in the shop it shouldn’t matter. It’s hard for all of us to take and the fact that I’m Russian doesn’t make me a bad person.”
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