Canadian Ukrainians seek support as energy crisis deepens

Four years into the Russia-Ukraine war and those who made it to Canada say they are still fearful for those back home. Paul Hollingsworth reports.

The fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is less than two weeks away and the suffering endured by civilians in that country continues, including an energy crisis during a brutally cold winter.

Maryna Horobets and Marianna Kovtun are constantly worried about family members they left behind when they fled the war-torn country.

“How can we repair something, while Putin and Russia keep bombing us,” said Horobets who is the President of the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Russian drones and missiles targeting the energy sector have caused massive outages and billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure across the country. More than a million homes do not have heat, electricity or running water during one of the coldest winters in years.

“It’s getting to be -25 during the night and -15 or -18 during the day,” said Horobets.

Dalhousie University international development studies professor Robert Huish said he sees conditions worsening each day, especially in Ukraine’s major cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv.

“Imagine a city like Ottawa or Calgary being completely in the dark, in the depths of winter,” said Huish.

Now, Ukrainians living in Canada are trying to help by joining the “Warmth for Ukraine” fundraising campaign.

“We are trying to gather money to buy generators and batteries for families and hospitals and schools in Ukraine,” said Horobets.

It’s also an opportunity to increase awareness about the continued suffering as the war rages on.

“We want people to support us and ask people what is going on,” said Marianna Kovtun, secretary of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. “Support them inside of Canada, outside of Canada and in Ukraine because people need your help.”

Huish is optimistic this global campaign could lead to an improvement in energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

“It could actually lead to partnerships down the road,” said Huish, adding if the war ends, Ukraine’s power-grid technology could be upgraded quickly. “Sometimes it becomes more difficult to replace or override an existing working system, but if the system is pummeled, it leaves opportunity for starting from scratch.”

Opportunities that could include modernizing all forms of power distribution and implementing solar technology.

“We are barely surviving such a harsh winter,” said Horobets.

She said the need to support the people in Ukraine with power and heat is never-ending.