In early November 2026, three women walked away from a social club in Australia’s capital. The spouses of the ambassadors of Ukraine, Italy and Estonia resigned from the Women’s International Club of Canberra after it admitted Irina Petrakova, the wife of Russia’s ambassador (Heath, 2026; Lisova, 2026a; Vasylenko, 2026).
The club’s president, Sandie Kaine, said the club acted on legal advice that refusing membership because of a person’s country of origin would breach anti-discrimination law, and that the admission followed the law and the club’s constitution (Heath, 2026; McLaughlin, 2026; Three ambassadors’ wives quit, 2026).
Liana Myroshnychenko, wife of Ukraine’s ambassador, explained her decision in an email to members. Her objection, she wrote, was to Petrakova’s role as an official representative of the Russian state, not to her nationality: “This is not about a Russian woman simply because she is Russian” (Heath, 2026). She described losing a cousin, a friend and many school and university friends to Russia’s war (Heath, 2026; Lisova, 2026a; Vasylenko, 2026). The European Union’s ambassador to Australia, Lawrence Meredith, said the bloc’s ambassadors were deeply disappointed and could accept no normalization of Russia’s invasion (Heath, 2026; Lisova, 2026a; McLaughlin, 2026).
The story then took a harder turn. On November 9, Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the club’s president had called the three women “bigots” at the club’s annual general meeting. He answered that refusing to socialise with a representative of a state waging war on Ukraine is a matter of conscience, dignity and solidarity with the victims (Lisova, 2026b). That account has not been independently confirmed, and the club’s response was not available in the reports (Lisova, 2026b).
Why this matters to me
As a Canadian born in Ukraine, I know the difference this story turns on. Nationality is who a person is. Official representation is a role a person carries for a state. Anti-discrimination law rightly protects people from being excluded for where they come from. It does not ask anyone to share a table with the representative of a government that is bombing their family’s homes. Choosing to leave is not an act of exclusion. It is an act of conscience, made quietly and at personal cost.
Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. We remember those who gave their lives so that others could live with dignity. Standing with these three women is a small part of that same remembering.
What you can do
- Write respectfully. If you wish to share your view with the Women’s International Club of Canberra, do so through its public channels, firmly and with courtesy. Dignity is our strongest argument.
- Thank the three women. A message of support to the embassies of Ukraine, Italy and Estonia in Australia lets them know they are not alone.
- Look at your own clubs. Ask whether your associations distinguish between a person’s nationality and their role as an official representative of a state at war. Clear policies protect both inclusion and conscience.
- Support Ukrainians near you. Join or start a Stand with Ukraine club in your community or at your university.
- Keep the conversation kind. Anger is understandable, but abuse online does not help Ukraine. Let our words show the values we stand for.
Love. Care. Share.
References
Heath, R. (2026, November 3). Russian ambassador’s wife joins Canberra club, prompting walkout. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/03/russian-ambassadors-wife-joins-canberra-club-prompting-walkout-01145927
Lisova, Y. (2026a, November 4). Diplomats’ spouses quit Canberra women’s club over Russian ambassador’s wife’s membership. Hromadske. https://hromadske.ua/en/war/273761-diplomats-spouses-quit-canberra-womens-club-over-russian-ambassadors-wifes-membership
Lisova, Y. (2026b, November 9). Diplomatic club dispute escalates as Ukrainian envoy says protesting wives were called ‘bigots’. Hromadske. https://hromadske.ua/en/amp/world/274068-diplomatic-club-dispute-escalates-as-ukrainian-envoy-says-protesting-wives-were-called-bigots
McLaughlin, A. (2026, November 5). Exclusive Canberra women’s club caught in geopolitical crossfire. PS News. https://psnews.com.au/exclusive-canberra-womens-club-caught-in-geopolitical-crossfire/188158/
Three ambassadors’ wives quit women’s club over Russian envoy’s wife. (2026, November 5). NV. https://english.nv.ua/nation/wives-of-three-ambassadors-quit-canberra-club-over-russian-envoy-s-wife-politico-50656544.html
Vasylenko, O. (2026, November 4). The wife of the Russian ambassador caused a scandal in Canberra: Representatives of Ukraine, Italy and Estonia announced a boycott. UNN. https://unn.ua/en/news/the-wife-of-the-russian-ambassador-caused-a-scandal-in-canberra-representatives-of-ukraine-italy-and-estonia-announced-a-boycott
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