Prince Albert residents of Ukrainian descent gathered on Saturday to recognize three years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Monday Feb. 24 marks three years since the invasion, but Prince Albert residents gathered on Saturday to recognize it with a prayer service at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and a program at St. George’s Hall. Since the invasion started, hundreds of Ukrainians have moved to Prince Albert to escape the violence.
Maria Trofmchuk, who acted as emcee for the event, came to Prince Albert in June 2022. She said her message to those in attendance was that the people of Ukranians are still brave.
“We still fight,” Trofmchuk said. “It’s not like we hope. We know that we will win, but it needs to take some more time.”
She said that she thought that Ukraine would win two and a half years ago. Entering the third year, she urged people to continue supporting Ukraine.
“What we can do right now is try and hope and support our process from anywhere,” Trofmchuk said.
“It’s not so much (in the) news right now around the all the world, and actually (many) don’t know what actually really going in Ukraine,” she explained. “Everyone thinks that it’s already done and war is finished, but it still going.”
Trofmchuk said she has a close friend’s son who is on the front lines in the war.
“I can’t believe that it is still going. I’m so tired and what I can do? Please pray for us and we will pray for ourselves for any way to save us,” she said.
Russia’s army crossed the border to Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in an invasion that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed was needed to protect Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine and prevent the country from joining NATO.
Trofmchuk said she wanted people to not forget Ukraine or the war.
“All world need to know that we still fight and we need to show the whole world that we Ukrainians are very brave for all the part of the world,” she said.
During her speech to open the ceremony she read a poem she wrote.
Trofmchuk was a lawyer in Ukraine and said she was lucky to find a job as a legal assistant. She said that she ‘got lucky’ but the most important part is that her now 6-year-old daughter is safe.
She said that her daughter has settled in well in Prince Albert and is in Grade 1 at St. Anne School.
“She learns English so fast because when she came she was close to four years and she never knew English, she never spoke English,” Trofmchuk said. “After two months when she started to go into daycare she start talking too fast. Now sometimes she is ‘Mama you spelled this word wrong or you say like this not like this.’”
She said that her daughter does not remember what happened in Ukraine but does not want to go back because it is dangerous. Her daughter wants to stay in Canada because Canada is her home.
Trofmchuk would not address any recent statements by American President Donald Trump or any leaders on the situation in Ukraine.
“Only who can charge him is God,” she said. “It is their (the United States’) decision, is their mind, but Ukraine needs support. Ukraine need help and I think it’s not right to blame us for how we are fighting for our land, because it’s not ‘we come to Russian lands.’ They come to our lands.”
Trofmchuk was immediately impacted by the war because she is from the part of Ukraine where the invasion began.
“When I heard the war started it was 4 a.m., maybe it started 5 a.m.,” she remembered. “I already knew that we’re starting in our country and I still not believe until it is (not) far from my apartment. We have military wholesale, something like that, close to my apartment and it was holding fire and I said, ‘yes, it’s true, it’s actually true.”
Before leaving for Canada, Trofmchuk moved to a safer part in western Ukraine. Now, she said the war is everywhere.
“Right now, it doesn’t matter what part of Ukraine you are in, it is shelling everywhere,” she said.
She said that the war has destroyed more than buildings it has also destroyed the culture and architecture.
“But most of all it has destroyed lives, people’s lives. They took the lives of children, adults, seniors, it doesn’t matter,” she said.
“What we want is (for the) world to hear about Ukraine and help us because actually we need more to be safe and to protect our land. We need more and we can’t do it alone. Ukraine needs help.”
She said the new Ukrainian families in Prince Albert lean on each other and are their own little community.
“We actually had a very great celebration for Malanka or our New Years. It was very nice (to) share Ukrainian culture. We try to meet for some coffee for tea,” she said.
The event opened with the singing of “O Canada” and the Ukrainian National Anthem after the flags were placed.
There were prayers at St. George’s Church with Father Harry Salahub before the event and Salahub led a prayer during the event.
The event included speeches by Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross, Veselka President Charlene Tebbutt read a speech from Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky who sent regrets because of a prior family commitment.
“I write to you today with a heavy heart as we mark the solemn occasion of three years since the beginning of the devastating war in Ukraine. The profound impact of this conflict has been felt not only by those who live within Ukraine’s borders, but by all who share in the suffering of humanity,” he wrote.
Powalinsky went on to write that the pain, loss and displacement endured by so many is a reminder of the fragility of peace and the resilience of the human spirit.
“As we reflect on this period of hardship, it is essential to come together in prayer offering our thoughts, hopes, and support for the people of Ukraine. We are united in our prayers and hopes for peace, dedicated to lifting up the lives of all those who are affected by the ongoing war.”
The Veselka Choir, which features Trofmchuk, performed several songs. She said that being in the Veselka Choir is very helpful for her.
“It’s very good that you have a way to show your culture being so far from your home,” she said.
“It’s actually it’s very nice and it was very helpful for me as well when I arrived to PA and someone saying we have Ukrainian choir here. I love them so much,” she added.
Trofmchuk also took time to acknowledge Prince Albert Citizen of the Year Sonya Jahn.
Zenik Rabiej and Teena Polle each read poems to conclude the event.
There was also a prayer service at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sunday and a fundraising Ukrainian supper at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall on Friday, Feb. 28.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
