Ukrainians in B.C. mark one year since start of war

A year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the province says more than 11,000 Ukrainians have come to B.C.

A few of them share how they have been impacted as they mark a year into the war.

The Pastor of Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster, Father Mykhailo Ozorovych, can’t believe it’s been that long since the invasion of his home country. He says the parish has been busy the last 12 months, helping Ukrainian refugees.

“We have touched over a thousand people with our help in one way or another, anything from filling out documents to airport pick up to helping with social insurance number, MSP, guiding them through settlement process here, finding housing. Over 400 housings that we were able to arrange,” Ozorovych said.

He says just about everyone at the parish knows someone – a son, brother, parent, or distant relative who is fighting in the war. He says he knows two young girls who came to B.C. with their mothers while both of their fathers served on the frontlines.

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Mariia Elsayed moved from Ukraine to B.C. with her husband and two children with only $300. She says they didn’t know anyone in Canada and while they’ve settled in with jobs and school, it’s still difficult.

“When I feel myself happy, I remember about people who are hurting now and especially, I had friends in all of Ukraine and different cities and I know what they are living in right now and their life is disaster,” Elsayed said.

Costa Mashkov moved to B.C. from Ukraine several years ago. When the war broke out, his mother, sister and niece joined him in Canada.

“One long nightmare. You feel like it’s not a year, but you feel we’re still back in February 24, 2022,” Mashkov said.

He says his sister has found work and his niece goes to school, but planning for the future is hard for them.

“It’s difficult to stay in positive note because when it just started everyone was thinking ‘okay, week, a month,’ but now it’s a year and you start thinking ‘okay, if its already one year, who know, maybe it’s 3, 5, 10’,” Mashkov said.

Chad Martz has seen the devastation in Ukraine first-hand. He’s been dividing his time between Chilliwack and the front lines, where he’s been providing humanitarian help. He estimates his group, Hungry for Life, has provided about 2.4 million pounds of food since the war began. He says the resolve of Ukrainians is what keeps him going.

“To be with a person who had just lost their home due to a rocket attack and he’s standing right in front of his home and we’re asking ‘how are you going to make it?’ And the resolve, is like – and this one I’ll never forget – he just said ‘with tears in our hands we will rebuild’,” Martz said.

Ozorovych says, while it’s hard to predict what the next year will bring, there is hope.

“To move forward, towards the victory. Toward celebrating victory over evil, victory over tyranny,” Ozorovych said. “And a great hope and desire and longing to go back to home and embrace, hug my parents again. Visit the places, and start rebuilding.”