Ukrainians in Edmonton react to unfolding tension within Russia

Some in Edmonton's Ukrainian community are cautiously optimistic about how Ukraine might benefit from the recent tension from within Russia and wonder if the instability might play a role in ending the war.

Some in Edmonton's Ukrainian community are cautiously optimistic about how Ukraine might benefit from the recent tension from within Russia and wonder if the instability might play a role in ending the war.

Saturday in downtown Edmonton, the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts was packed with patrons at the organization's annual Ukrainian Vintage Fair.

But for many of the visitors at the fair, with strong ties to Ukraine, one eye was on the art and the other on the unfolding tension within Russia.

Evgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private fighting group known as "Wagner" has been lashing out at senior military and government officials and has threatened to march on Moscow.

Nobody wants to say, we don't want to celebrate, obviously, this," said Bohdan Hnat. "But it's a sign that Russia is vulnerable."

Hnat left Ukraine three years ago, but he has three relatives fighting on the front lines to try and keep the Russian invasion at bay.

"What’s going to happen to Russia is the secondary question," he said. "The number one is, if Russia loses the war, Putin is gone."