Ukrainian-Canadians in Thunder Bay, Ont., express fear and anger in wake of Russian invasion

As Russian troops invade Ukraine, Ukrainians with ties to Thunder Bay, Ont., say they fear for friends, family members, colleagues and Ukraine itself.

"I couldn't sleep tonight," said Sasha Bubon, "Like I couldn't like, put my head around [it]." 

Bubon has friends and family in Ukraine who are currently sheltering in place, he said. 

They have been checking bomb shelters to ensure they're safe and accessible, collecting supplies and making sure their vehicles' gas tanks are full in case they need to leave.

"It's a feeling that you, probably and me, hopefully will never experience in our lifetime," said Bubon. "I feel probably only half or a quarter of [what] my family feels right now in being bombed. … I couldn't work today. I was like, I'm just — I can't think about anything productive or useful. Like the only thing is my thoughts are all in Ukraine with my family, with brave Ukrainians that protect our homeland."

Mar'yana Farion, who was born and raised in Western Ukraine and came to Canada 20 years ago, said nearly all her family remains in the country, and some of her friends are fighting in the war.

"I am shocked. I'm angry. I'm just kind of devastated. But at the same time, I'm also kind of, I wouldn't say happy but maybe relieved," Farion said. "The world finally realized what Russia is all about.

"When I heard news that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin actually declared the war, I called my dad and actually woke him up. And he's like, 'What happened?' I said, 'You don't know yet?' He's like, 'No.' I said, 'Well the war — he [Putin] actually did it. He's here.'" 

Her voice began to tremble as she added, "And then I said to him, 'You know what? Now I will be waiting for a phone call from you, because I want to hear from you that Ukraine finally won.'"

"It's just a disaster," said Stephen Orlesky, who was born and raised in a Ukrainian family in Thunder Bay and was living in Ukraine before fleeing Feb. 12.

Orlesky left behind Ukrainian colleagues when he moved his family out of the country, he said.

When he speaks to them, they sound calm, determined and defiant while describing scenes of military combat close to their homes, he said.

"My counterpart [who is] Ukrainian his … house outside of Kyiv is located very close to a military airbase, which was bombed," said Olesky, who was in the country to work on a project for the German Development Bank.

"He said that the bombs fell basically 200 metres from his house. And he was there with his son and his wife obviously, and the son said, 'Dad, will we still be living? Will we live?' … That really shows you the whole human side of what's going on."