Olena Horbatenko finds Feb. 24 to be a challenging day, as it reminds her of the traumatic moment when explosions rocked her hometown of Kyiv in 2022. The memory remains vivid in her mind, triggered even by the sound of fireworks. Horbatenko is among nearly six million Ukrainians who have fled their country following Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, as reported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Approximately 300,000 Ukrainian refugees sought shelter in Canada, with around 4,500 settling in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the Ukrainian National Federation. The first government-arranged flight landed in May 2022.
Transitioning to a new life in the province in October, Horbatenko had to leave her parents and brother in Ukraine. The presence of military planes near her home served as a poignant moment that nudged her towards the decision to leave. She highlights the ongoing struggles faced by her family and compatriots back in Ukraine, where the sound of war persists as a grim backdrop to daily life, even during celebratory occasions like birthdays.
Similarly, Kateryna Sydorenko from Corner Brook narrates her experience of waking up to the unsettling sound of a bomb flying over her house in Krolevets, eastern Ukraine, signaling the onset of the war on Feb. 24, 2022. After enduring a month of Russian occupation, she made the decision to depart, arriving in Stephenville in July 2022. Sydorenko reflects on the enduring hardships faced by those who remained in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of appreciating small victories amid the prolonged conflict.
Bruce Lilly, a key figure in facilitating the settlement of Ukrainians in Newfoundland and Labrador, underscores the remarkable resilience displayed by the Ukrainian community amid adversity. He emphasizes the significance of fostering a sense of belonging through cultural initiatives, such as language schools, choirs, and dance groups, to aid integration and community bonding. Lilly commends the high retention rate of Ukrainians in the province, attributing it to the mutual curiosity and openness between the local population and the newcomers.
Despite finding a semblance of home in Newfoundland and Labrador, both Horbatenko and Sydorenko remain emotionally connected to their homeland, especially on Feb. 24, oscillating between uncertainty and hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. Sydorenko expresses faith in a brighter future, anchored in the safety of her family, while Horbatenko stresses the importance of maintaining dialogue about the war to keep the plight of their families and country in focus.