When a Ukrainian refugee fled to Montreal in 2022, she had to leave behind her son, who enlisted as a soldier to fight against the Russian invasion.
Her now 30-year-old son has been missing since May of last year, presumably taken prisoner. The latest she’s heard is he’s apparently alive, but doesn’t know any details. She says other groups of Ukrainian prisoners have been released alive after years in captivity, and hopes for the same outcome for her son.
“For everyone to return to normal life, it’s my dream. My big dream,” the woman told The Gazette at a Montreal demonstration marking the fourth anniversary of the war. She asked to remain anonymous for her son’s safety.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds gathered at Phillips Square to commemorate the thousands of lives lost since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Victims of the war held signs denouncing the Russian attacks, alongside Ukrainian ambassadors, consuls, and MPs Anthony Housefather, Sameer Zuberi and Alexandre Boulerice from the Liberal and NDP parties.
Another Ukrainian refugee at the demonstration, 14-year-old Mariia Barhan, moved to Montreal two years ago from Kyiv, leaving their grandparents behind.
“When the war started, we were scared every day,” Barhan said in an interview. “We never knew if it would happen to our house, or whether we would be safe tomorrow.”
Barhan’s life has “completely changed” since arriving in Montreal. “But I think it was our best decision to move here, because life here is better than if we had stayed.”
A woman wears a colourful headdress in Phillip’s Square in Montreal as hundreds gather to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s war against Ukraine began in 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, Andrii Plakhotniuk, told the crowd at Phillips Square.
“But four years ago, the Kremlin chose escalation on a massive scale, attempting to destroy Ukraine’s independence and ruin the international order.”
Plakhotniuk said Canada has been a “steadfast friend and partner” since the first day of the full-scale invasion, calling to “multiply our pressure” on Russia and proclaiming “solidarity sends a powerful message that aggression will never prevail.”
“Slava Ukraini!” Plakhotniuk cried out at the end of his speech, a slogan of resistance that translates to “Glory to Ukraine!” and has gained worldwide recognition since the 2022 invasion. “Heroiam slava!” the crowd responded, which translates as “Glory to the heroes!”
According to Housefather, defending Ukraine is one of the few issues all parties in the House of Commons agree on.
“Standing with Ukraine is in Canada’s interest, and in the world’s interest. Ukraine is fighting our war. Vladimir Putin has made really clear that his expansionist goals don’t end with Ukraine,” Housefather said.
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