Ukrainians in B.C. mark one year of brutal war with Russia | 24CA News

One 12 months after Russia launched a brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians in British Columbia are attempting to settle into a brand new life whereas managing worry for his or her family and friends again residence.

An estimated 11,000 Ukrainian refugees have settled in B.C. because the struggle broke out.

Dozens of them, like Olga Osadets, have discovered work at Kozak Ukranian Restaurant in Metro Vancouver.

Osadets fled Odessa along with her son in April and began at Kozak as a dishwasher. She’s now an assistant supervisor, normal supervisor Alex Surinov mentioned, translating for Global News.

“When she flew to Canada, she didn’t know at all like if she going to find a job but the only point in why she chose Canada was because she wants to find a better way for her son to live — to live in peace,” he translated.

2:13Volunteer group serving to Ukrainian refugees makes plea for host households

The restaurant is operated by husband and spouse Sergiy Kuznietsov and Iryna Karpenko, who opened it practically a decade in the past after immigrating in 2012.

Since the struggle began, the pair have employed 42 Ukrainian refugees, and maintain a listing of others for when positions open.

“Everything from dishes to manager. Every imaginable role in the restaurant industry, you name it, you have a team member from Ukraine,” Kuznietsov mentioned.

“They obviously struggled because of what they witnessed or what happened to their relatives. At the same time, you have relatives in Ukraine as well … emotionally its difficult, you learn how to work with your emotions, how to work with your mental health, how to help others to go through difficult times.”

Global News visited Kozak simply days after the struggle broke out, as locals packed the business to point out assist and assist fundraise for humanitarian help — however Karpenko was wracked with anxiousness over relations nonetheless in Ukraine.

The invasion started on her mom’s birthday, she recalled. She defined how she woke her mother up at 5 a.m. with the horrific news.

“I woke her up screaming, ‘It’s a war,’ and she couldn’t believe it,” she mentioned. “That’s how they found out.”

1:56Vacant Vancouver houses home Ukrainian refugees

Many of Karpenko’s relations stay within the nation, although there have been small victories.

In April she was in a position to deliver her sister and nephew to Vancouver, and she or he’s since been in a position to deliver her dad and mom, too.

Both her mom and sister are working at completely different Kozaks places, whereas her dad helps them as a handyman.

“Which is a blessing for me. My sister, my mom, they work together with us,” she mentioned.

2:14Coquitlam households welcome Ukrainian refugees

Even so, the struggle isn’t removed from the couple’s minds.

“Everything changed upside down,” she mentioned.

“For us, whatever we feel, it’s nothing for those who came here, who saw it, and all the ones who are still there.”

And day by day brings the specter of contemporary trauma.

Osadets mentioned her uncle was killed in motion simply days earlier than the struggle hit its one-year mark.

“He died like just two days ago after going into a hotspot to fight … he was only like 39 years old,” Surinov translated.

For others, the flight to Canada has been marked by new life.

Refugee Anna Chebotar fled to B.C. whereas she was pregnant, and has already begun to place down new roots.

“I am worried about it’s another country, I don’t have any friends — but now I have some friends, thank God,” she mentioned.

“I want to say very, very thank you for your support.”

3:35Helping Ukrainian refugees settle in B.C.

There have been no less than 8,000 confirmed civilian deaths within the battle in response to the United Nations human rights workplace, although this determine is believed to considerably undercount the true dying toll.

The British Ministry of Defence has estimated between 40,000 and 60,000 Russian troops have died, whereas Ukraine claims 9,000 of its personal troopers have misplaced their lives. Both figures are tough to confirm.

Supporters of Ukraine scheduled a rally exterior the Vancouver Public Library’s central department for 7 p.m. Friday, with a second rally scheduled at Jack Poole Plaza at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

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