Lloydminster has been twinned with the City of Nikopol in Ukraine since 2018.
Marina Klopova, who has lived in Lloydminster for over a year, grew up in Nikopol. Her mother still lives there. Her hometown is under fire from Russia.
The father of her firstborn son died in the fighting.
“Yuryi Chebannyi was 38 years old when Russia killed him on the Donetsk front,” says Marina.
Her brother is in captivity and her family has not heard from him.
“Volodymyr Zaikin, has been held in Russian captivity for a year. There is no way to communicate with him. We simply believe and wait for his return home.”
Her family is just one among the many Ukrainian families who have suffered from the war in Ukraine.
“When they started shelling our city—Nikopol—we were forced first to hide in bomb shelters, and then we began spending nights there. I would even say we started living there. Sometimes, more than 50 people were crammed into one room. There were elderly people and mothers with infants. Everyone settled as best they could—on the floor, on chairs. Some even brought cots. Yet even in the basement, we could hear the sounds of nearby artillery shells. The city siren sounded all day long. It is beyond words to describe how the frightened children cried from these explosions. Everyone was terrified—it was horrible,” says Marina.
Before the war, Marina worked as the head of the Culture Department at the Nikopol City Council, and she ran a small event-planning business.
“When the war began, our department changed its focus and became a humanitarian headquarters. We collected aid for our soldiers, wove protective nets, and sent them food—everyone did everything they could, all under constant shelling. As a result of the bombardments, houses collapsed; people did not always manage to reach safety, and in many cases, they died under the rubble. Also, after the war started, our department took care of the military funerals. One never forgets how mothers weep over the graves of their young slain sons, and how the wives and children of the fallen cry,” grieves Marina.
She points out that the war has destroyed many lives and brought immense sorrow.
“I live with the belief that this horror will end. People should not be dying, children should not be suffering, mothers should not have to bury their sons, and children should not have to live in bomb shelters.”
Marina shares how much she misses Nikopol, Lloydminster’s twin city.
“Of course, I do. No matter where a person lives, they will always miss their homeland. But I have two little sons, and I know that it is deadly dangerous there, as it is for everyone living there. After all, Nikopol is only seven kilometres away from where the enemy troops are stationed. At such a short distance, air defense systems cannot operate—the city is almost defenseless. Every day, the enemy launches dozens of artillery shells and drones at my city, often with fatal consequences for its residents. People are constantly in danger.”
Thoughts and prayers have become more than just comforting words that people share.
“I know that the entire Ukrainian nation prays for this horror to end and for all our guys in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to return home alive. Our boys are heroes. Words cannot express our gratitude for the way they protect their people and their country,” says the new Lloydminster resident using through the translator on her phone.
Marina is thankful that Canada has embraced her and so many others fleeing world conflicts.
“I also want to express my gratitude to Canada for opening its doors and warmly welcoming the Ukrainian families who have suffered from the war. The City of Lloydminster is very friendly and cozy. We like it here, but we miss home.”
She is grateful to the many good people they have met. She has a full time job with a local company and teaches at the Ukrainian school which started in the last year.
Marina is once again developing her small event planning business, Happy Show Lloyd.
“I organize children’s birthday parties and gender reveal parties. We offer many options for photo zones, creative art installations, themed parties, innovative ideas for weddings, and more. Our plush heroes, Teddy and Bunny, bring great joy to children.”
Marina is working on her next project which is going to be a bubble show for kids. More details will soon be coming for that event being planned for April.
She wants to start a project for the twined cities of Lloydminster and Nikopol.
“I would like us to create a joint humanitarian project to support the residents of Nikopol—it would be a tremendous help right now.”
She hopes that everyone will never have to experience war.
“Life is such a thing that everything can change in an instant. But above all, believe in yourself and never give up.”
