Sudbury immigrant works to keep connected with family and friends in Ukraine
CBC
A newcomer to northeastern Ontario, originally from Ukraine, said it's been difficult watching what's happening in her home country.
Ukraine is currently under invasion by Russian troops led by President Vladmir Putin.
Russia announced a handful of humanitarian coordinators to allow citizens to flee Ukraine, starting Monday, although the evacuation routes were mostly leading to Russia and its ally Belarus, drawing criticism from Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued to pummel Ukraine cities, including Mykolaiv, south of the capital of Kyiv, indicating there would be no wider cessation of hostilities.
Svitlana Lapshykova arrived in Canada about nine months ago. She and her daughter now live in Greater Sudbury, and she works for an international recruitment firm.
Lapshykova said her parents, sister, brother and friends are all still in Ukraine.
"It's hard to describe with words how I'm feeling," she said.
She said now, her days start around 3 or 4:00 a.m., with her trying to check in on her friends and family in Ukraine.
"I open my eyes, I take my phone and sometimes I'm just scared to text because there is always a fear of not hearing back," she said.
"My family is more or less safe. They are far from big cities but at the same time, I have a lot of friends in town."
Lapshykova said that town is now completely destroyed. She added she hasn't been able to get a hold of another friend as they are in an area without electricity.
She said there are times when she feels helpless.
"Sometimes, even guilty, not being there with them in this hard moment," she said.
"I try to connect with all of them, everyday."
"[If] someone doesn't pick up the phone, you know, I just keep calling until they do."
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