As Russia continues its military attack on Ukraine, Saskatchewan-Ukrainians are worried about the safety of their loved ones back home.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the plans for a wide-ranging attack on Thursday in a televised address.
Putin said the “special military operation,” which he added would occur in eastern Ukraine, was in response to Ukrainian threats. He insisted Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine.
As of noon on Thursday, the Russian military said it had destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 airbases.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 137 civilians and military personnel have been killed as of Thursday evening. Hundreds more have been wounded.
Ukrainians have started to flee as several areas of the country were targeted by missile strikes.
Olesya Hursky is now living in Saskatoon but was born in Ukraine and has cousins, aunts, uncles and friends back home that she and her husband have tried to keep in touch with to check on their safety and well-being.
“(We are) constantly asking if they are still OK — if they’re still alive,” Hursky told Global News.
“We’re so far away and we’re telling them to hang on and that they’ll be OK and they’ll survive even though you have no idea if they will. How do you tell people that you might not be able to reach tomorrow morning? What do you tell them?
“How do you tell them to keep calm and keep collected when there’s bombs being thrown on top of their heads?”
Hursky and her husband run a non-profit organization called Stream of Hope Aid for Ukraine that helps orphans as well as children from poor families.
Hursky is concerned about where the orphans will go if they have to be evacuated.
“We’re really angry because Ukraine has done nothing wrong. They don’t … deserve this,” Hursky added.
Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Taras Makowsky of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral stressed that Ukrainian and Russian people are not to blame for the conflict and the church is praying for both of them.
“They are just unfortunate pawns in this whole thing. I think it’s going to affect many of us in many different ways,” Makowsky said.
“There are high emotions, people are starting to get very upset with what is happening there. All that we can do here in Canada or in North America is pray for them,” he added.
A freelance videographer born in Regina and now living in Kyiv told Global News he and his friends climbed up a hill around 4 a.m EET on Thursday where they heard about eight to nine explosions.
Joshua Schnell, who goes by the name Jay Tree, has a YouTube channel called The Adventures of Jay Tree where he posts videos of travel experiences. Lately, his videos have delved into the current situation in Ukraine.
Tree said his family back home are concerned for him.
“Nobody wants their 28-year-old son to tell your family that you’re deciding to intentionally stay in a war-torn situation to provide media coverage and essentially put yourself in danger to tell this story to the world.”
Tree said even if he did decide to leave, it’s impossible to do so.
“The airports are closed. All the buses are full. All the trains are full,” he said.
Tree said he is worried about the situation. The majority of videography he’s done has been commercial settings and weddings.
“Now here I am doing international coverage for a war in Ukraine with Russia. I never thought my life would lead me to this point,” Tree said.
He added he feels he has a purpose now to stay in the country and serve his ancestors and others.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe tweeted a show of support for Ukrainians and Ukrainian-Canadians.
“The attack by Russia is unprovoked, unwarranted, and evil,” Moe added.
Moe said Canada and other nations should impose severe sanctions on Russia immediately, including ending the import of Russian oil and natural gas.
More to come.
— with files from Global News’ Sean Boynton, Aaron D’Andrea and Ahmar Khan, The Associated Press and Reuters