The war in Ukraine, the starting point of threats against businesses in Toronto

The weekend after the Russian invasion, our sales dropped completely, says the owner of Brash & Sassy Vodka Bar, Jasmine Daya.

Just a month ago, this downtown Toronto establishment was called Pravda Vodka Bar and had a Soviet theme.

Its walls were covered with paintings glorifying the Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsUSSR. A huge portrait of Lenin sat in the middle of the dining room and a series of flags displaying the hammer and sickle, the symbols of communism, hung above the bar, not to mention the huge statue of Stalin in front of which customers used to take pictures of themselves.

However, in just a few days, almost all traces of its Soviet decoration disappeared.

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The statue is so big that we can't get it out the door. The previous owner had let him in through the window. So we're going to have to keep it hidden here because we don't know how to get it out, says Jasmine Daya, pulling back the curtain of a storage room.

In the basement, a huge sickle and hammer are now buried under crates of beer while dozens of Soviet artifacts, including portraits of communist leaders, communist flags, Russian dolls and accordions, s pile up out of sight.

The artifacts that once decorated the Pravda Vodka Bar, now called Brash & Sassy Vodka Bar, are now stored in the basement of the establishment.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Andréane Williams

[From the start of the conflict], we started receiving threats. They came from everywhere: by email, on our social networks, by phone. I was so afraid that someone would attack our establishment and that the safety of my employees would be compromised that I immediately decided to change our brand identity, says Jasmine Daya, who had to reinforce security within his establishment.

She adds that she spent more than $100,000 to redecorate.

Dealing with all these angry people and all this hate [and] having to change my establishment is very expensive and it affects my business and my family, she says , tears in his eyes.

The conflict in Ukraine also came to Janchenko’s Bakery in the west of the city. Faced with the anger of some customers, this business, which serves specialties from Eastern Europe, has decided to remove Russian products from its shelves.

I only had a few cookies and jars of Russian jam, but my employees were getting yelled at and asked why we were selling these products, so I had to withdraw them, says the owner, Maria Janchenko.

The owner of Janchenko's Bakery, Maria Janchenko, can't understand why Canadians are attacking local businesses.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Andréane Williams

What disappoints me the most is that people with so many cultural similarities are dividing and turning against each other [when] we should be united in the face of tyranny , she laments.

Ukrainians are also targeted

Nearby, the Ukrainian bookstore Koota Ooma is also the target of threats and hateful messages. Since the start of the conflict, she has received emails written in English and Russian calling for the destruction of Ukrainian communities and NATO allies.

Its co-owner, Mirka Werbowy-Onuch, also believes her website has been hacked.

Customers tell me that the Ukrainian flags they hang on their cars get broken and even burned, she adds.

“I am very angry because here in Canada, we all live together. »

Mirka Werbowy-Onuch claims to have contacted the police because of the emails she receives, but was told it is difficult for authorities to intervene in such a situation.

The Toronto Police Service indicates that it is unable to confirm whether hate incidents against the Russian and Ukrainian communities are more frequent.

The owner of Ukrainian bookstore Koota Ooma, Mirka Werbowy-Onuch (right), has also received e-mail threats.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Andréane Williams

When there are international conflicts or when we know that communities are at risk, we reinforce the police presence in these communities and we contact their leaders to encourage them to report these incidents, says Alex Li, spokesman for the Toronto police.

Despite everything, Mirka Werbowy-Onuch does not fear for her safety.

If someone came to insult us, I would invite them to come and decorate Ukrainian Easter eggs. It would help him relax, she laughs.