Tears flowed as Ukrainians living in Lloydminster gathered on Hwy 16 from 11 a.m. on Friday. They shared with MyLloydminsterNow of the pain they are feeling since Russia deployed troops to their homeland.
With the one year anniversary of the war being observed Tetyana Alyeksyeyenko who has been in Canada since 2009 tells us of her family back in Central Ukraine and relatives who are battling in the Donetsk region.
“My heart is in so much pain for everybody. Every person, every soldier – because it’s too hard. It’s a year today. They are tired. They’re heartbroken. So many families lost everything. Lost family members. My heart is crying today. So much pain.”
She says she spoke to one of her relatives today who is on the frontline and they know that Ukrainians in Canada are standing in the cold to keep their cause in the public eye.
“I was lucky today to speak to my brother. Sometimes you call and there is no connection. It stopped my heart. Sometimes you don’t know if he is still there – if he is still battling, but they all know the support, the help, the prayers and love that we send to them. And they feel that.”
Alyeksyeyenko says they are grateful for all the support and she thanks Canada. However, she fears that if they don’t get more weapons and further support, the war in Ukraine will spread.
Canada is pledging $32 million on the one year anniversary. Officials say the money is for removing mines, addressing sexual violence, and countering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.