Davyd Kaminsky is a Ukrainian who, four years ago — at just 15-years-old — was forced to leave his home when Russia invaded the country. Kaminsky, his family, along with thousands of others, fled to Winnipeg for refuge, but he still remembers vividly the day his life changed.
“I knew that my dad was supposed to come over, and then he wakes me up at five in the morning and basically tells me that the war has started, and then I hear sirens outside of the window. I get up and look outside and I see a bunch of people walking with their backpacks, everybody’s panicking,” Kaminsky explained.
“I could not even imagine in four years, when im almost 20, that the war is still happening.”
Maksym Solomko left in 2023, when the population of his hometown shrank by a third. He was forced to close his business, forcing him to come to Winnipeg to look for work. He says he’s grateful to be working as a truck driver now, and that Canada opened its doors for Ukrainians escaping the violence.
“I remember that day clearly because I woke up at 4 a.m., because a rocket was flying over the roof of my home,” Solomko explained.
“It’s a tragedy that it’s still lasting, but the fortune of Ukraine, that we’re still holding, that Ukraine is still able to resist, that’s because of (Canada), because of you helping us.”
Both Solomko and Kaminsky are trying to apply for permanent residency, like many others from Ukraine. They’re encouraging people to sign a petition led by the United Ukrainians of Canada Foundation, which has 50,000 letters sent to government officials, lobbying for a special pathway for Ukrainians to apply for their PR.
“Most of Ukrainians who came here, they’re hard workers, they’re paying taxes, obtaining jobs, trying to learn, their children are already settled here going to school. Some of those children don’t know [Ukrainian language], so there should be some pass for them to stay here,” said Solomko.
A statement from the foundation reads, “Our organization remains committed to working collaboratively with government leaders and communities across Canada to achieve a sustainable and humane solution.”
While Solomko and Kaminsky say they want a future in Canada, four years of their home country fighting against an invasion has taken an emotional toll.
“I would say I just miss the peace, I miss my childhood, all my friends, all my memories are left back there,” said Kaminsky.
Solomko added, “I lost one of my best friends in this war. Another friend was wounded. Lots of Ukrainian territory is just vanished.”