‘Innocent people are dying. This is real now:’ Ukrainian-Nova Scotians fear for loved ones

The Nova Scotia-Ukrainian community is reeling from the Russian invasion.

Anastasiia Mereshchuk with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ Nova Scotia Branch says they were taken by surprise when Russia launched a wide-ranging military attack on Thursday.

Russian tanks have rolled across the border, cities and bases have been hit with explosives, and residents have been piling into trains and cars to escape.

Air raid sirens rang throughout the region.

“I have no words. It was a very hard night. I don’t think anyone got any sleep anywhere in the Ukrainian family in the world,” Mereshchuk says. “It’s kind of surreal too because I definitely couldn’t have imagined growing up that we could arrive at this day and have history changed forever.”

Mereshchuk grew up in Ukraine, went to high school, and met her husband there.

She moved to Canada in 2014 for school, but much of her family still lives in Ukraine. She says her hometown has been attacked.

“Luckily, my family members are safe for now. They have a curfew there and they have some, obviously, panic going on among people,” Mereshchuk says. “We don’t know what to do, honestly, we don’t, just please stop.”

She says the Ukrainian Canadian Congress wants to see further sanctions against Russia and financial and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

Photo: Lane Harrison via Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Nova Scotia

They’re also looking for the federal government to recognize the Russian action as a war crime.

“The war has started and it’s not just Ukraine that’s affected. It’s peace in the entire world,” Mereshchuk says.”I think the important note is to recognize the actions of the Russian president and make sure we can stop him as soon as possible because innocent people are dying. This is real now.”

Canada and its allies announced strong sanctions against Russia on Thursday. The Canadian sanctions include 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including political leaders, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group, and several major Russian banks.

Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia, estimated to amount to $700 million in trade.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is holding a solidarity rally at 4 p.m. on Saturday outside Halifax City Hall.

The Ukrainian flag was raised at City Hall on Thursday and the building was bathed in yellow and blue light in honour of the country overnight.

Russian forces close in on Ukraine’s capital

Explosions continue to rock Ukraine on Friday as Russia pushes forward with its full-scale invasion.

Many of the residents of the nation’s capital, Kyiv, took shelter underground at subway stations overnight amid missile strikes.

They bundled up in sleeping bags and some brought their pets to help pass the time in the makeshift bomb shelters.

Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has confirmed the city was hit.

“Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany,” Kuleba tweeted. “Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Sever all ties. Kick Russia out of everywhere.”

Ukraine officials are reporting they’ve lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.

They also confirm more than 100 Ukrainians have been killed and hundreds more wounded.

Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilization. Male citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country.

Meantime, the chant “No to war!” has been ringing out in Russia as thousands join anti-war protests.

**With files from Jack Morse.