Local Ukrainian newcomers react to Russia-Ukraine conflict anniversary

Ukrainian refugees living in Waterloo Region are marking the third anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. CTV’s Heather Senoran has more.

It’s been three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, but for those who are from Ukraine, the trauma from living there as it was happening still feels fresh.

The United Nations estimates at least 12,654 civilians have been killed and more than 29,000 injured since Feb. 24, 2022, the day Russia launched its invasion.

Nataliia Semenenko is from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. She fled almost exactly one year ago with her family, including her two kids and moved to Waterloo Region.

“I am [like] a small insect and somebody big keeps some shoes above my head. And I [am] waiting on one time when the shoes will go to my head and the head of my children and will kill me,” Semenenko told CTV News, near tears.

She said she was constantly living in fear. She would go to bed with the sound of bombs in the background and wake up and check social media to find more bombs were on their way.

“They bombed Zaporizhzhia every single night from the end of September until the end of October,” she said, reflecting on one of her worst memories of 2022.

Grassroots Response

Semenenko left in the hopes for a better life and got just that. She now works for Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis, based out of Waterloo Region. It’s the same organization that helped her come to the region.

“It’s settlement. It’s food, clothes, employment, mental health. And so we have not only [a] Canadian team, Canadian volunteers, we have a lot of Ukrainian volunteers,” she said.

Grassroots Response started because of the Russia-Ukrainian conflict and has helped thousands of people ever since.

“The deadline to come to Canada is ending, but there’s still Ukrainians here that need us and we’re not going to turn them away. We’re going to still keep supporting them,” said the group’s founder, Stephanie Goertz.

However, conflicts continue to escalate with added stressors like political uncertainties.

“History has shown how if we do not stop aggressors it doesn’t do anything good,” said Goertz.

She said a lot of people they’ve helped are struggling to stay in Ontario due to things like lack of employment. The organization is hoping for more donations so they can continue to help families.

As for Semenenko, she said she’s relieved to finally feel safe with her family.

“Absolutely safe,” she said.

Kitchener rally

A rally in Kitchener took place over the weekend on the Global Day of Action.

“We just want to stop this immediately. We just want that this bloodshed stopped and that’s it,” said Olga Strasburger, who fled Ukraine in September 2024 but now works with Grassroots Response.