Montrealers rally in support of Ukraine in on-going crisis
Posted April 16, 2022 6:17 pm.
Last Updated April 16, 2022 6:22 pm.
Montrealers continue to show their support and rally for Ukraine. Many came together Saturday, at Place Jacques-Cartier, with their flags and signs of support held high.
Russian forces have resumed attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine, and other regions after warning that it planned to step up missile strikes on the capital.
“The war in Ukraine is not over. We still need a lot of help. We need your support,” said Mykyta Nesteruka, a Ukrainian Montrealer.
RELATED: Russia renews strikes on Ukraine capital, hits other cities
Markel Reva, who still has family in Ukraine close to Mariupol, says he calls home every day to make sure his family is still alive.
“If there’s one thing that I keep telling them is don’t lose hope. You are people of Ukraine and you can’t give up,” said Reva.
“I have to support my country. There’s not a single day that I go to sleep without thinking, how can I help? What is there that I can do? And this is one of the things that I can do.”
Civilians are the main victims of this war. As many as 900 people were killed in cities around Kyiv Friday.
RELATED: More than 900 civilian bodies found in Kyiv region: police
“Basing off of the official numbers, the losses of civilian lives in Ukraine are now greater than the military losses on both sides. I still can’t wrap my brain around it,” said Oleksandr Palokha, another Ukrainian Montrealer.
And Palokha isn’t the only one in shock by the events taking place in Ukraine.
“People should know what Russia does to my country every day and people should be afraid. People should be willing to urge their governments to take action,” said Maryna Kluban, also from Ukraine.
Michael Shwec, the president of the Montreal chapter of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress, added, “it’s an atrocity, it’s genocide. The world is recognizing it as pictures come out and the truth is being exposed. This needs to stop and the global community needs to come together to make it stop.”
Canada has announced members of the Canadian armed forces will be deployed to Poland on a humanitarian mission to support Ukrainian refugees who have fled the Russian invasion. Many agree the help is welcomed but add more needs to be done to help Ukraine on the ground.
“Humanitarian help is very important, but it’s rather healing the symptoms of the problem and not the problem itself. If we can defend our country and kick Russians out of our land, there will be no refugees and there will be no need and humanitarian help,” explained Nesteruka.
“I believe that Canada is able to do more. I believe that Canada is able to convince NATO to do more. And I believe that the whole world can do more right now to support Ukraine in this fight,” Palokha added.
