It’s been 100 days since the first Russian bomb was dropped in Ukraine, and those who fled to Manitoba are reflecting on the grim milestone.
Yarina Chepiha spent 18 days in a bunker in Kyiv before fleeing to Europe via Winnipeg.
She says being on Canadian soil is a blessing, but it has been an emotional transformation as she recounts the pain of the war back home.
“My days are full of sunshine and joy.. but it hurts when I talk about it,” she said.
Read more:
The First 100 Days of War from the View of a Ukrainian Village
Chepiha says the support she has received so far in Winnipeg is indescribable.
“I was very surprised because (the) very kind people I met … helped me a lot with my things.”
Chepiha is one of about a thousand Ukrainians who have arrived in Manitoba, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress played a major role in helping them settle in the province.
“I can’t believe it’s been so long,” said UCC president Joan Lewandowski. “It’s gone quickly, however, there have been some potholes.”
Lewandowski says it has been a rough road dealing with housing logistics, but that problem seems to be going away now that financial support is available through Ottawa.
Read more:
Ukrainians fleeing Canada will receive financial help from the Fed in the coming days
The federal government announced financial assistance for Ukrainian refugees through a one-time payment of $3,000 for each adult and $1,500 for each child.
According to Lewandowski, that kind of money is life-changing.
“They’ll be able to deposit on an apartment, they’ll have some breathing room, and they’ll be able to move out of their hotel,” she said.
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