Montrealers commemorate Ukrainian Independence Day
Posted August 24, 2022 11:37 pm.
“Six months into this war is a long time nobody thought Ukraine would stand so long and we’re so proud of the Ukrainian people and we’re part of that nation and we’re trying to show that support,” said president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Michael Shwec.
Hundreds of Montrealers gathered in a ceremony to observe Ukraine’s independence day — the day also marking 6 months since the start of the unprovoked Russian Invasion.
“It’s important that we show solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are fighting right now against the Russian invaders,” said Shwec.
“I want to support my parents, everyone that’s at home that we aren’t forgetting about them, that I’m not just ‘chilling’ abroad with my friends, that I’m actually doing something and that I do care about them,” said Ukrainian refugee Anastasia Naumova.
16-year-old Anastasia Naumova fled Ukraine only four months ago to live with her sister leaving her parents behind.
“It was very hard for the first month. It was very hard, I was like I have to study and stop thinking about this because it hurts so much,” said Naumova.
“Everyone keeps telling me like you’re 16, this is like the best years you don’t have responsibilities! This is not right, I have a lot of responsibilities. I still take care of my parents, my sister and everyone that is here like my friends they feel very very bad now sometimes they’re depressed or something.”
“They’re trying to describe what it’s like to leave their home because of bombardment and to come to a new land,” said Shwec.
“Since the start of the war, I lost many people in my family including my uncle and my two aunts. Mentally speaking I was not right, I was extremely unwell I couldn’t be home alone because I had panic attacks,” said one Montreal-Ukrainian attendee.
“This conflict, not even conflict this is a war, but this one has been happening since 2014 and this has affected me and I’ve lost four of my friends,” said Belarusian-Montrealer Daniil Harshkou. “I hope that we win because us we deserve a better future, we deserve better.”
