Leaving family behind continues to be hardest part for Ukrainians in Winnipeg

Ukrainians in Winnipeg are joining the rest of the world in commemorating the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of their homeland.

Katerina Reznyk was living in Poland with her husband and two daughters when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

Reznyk, who has since moved to Winnipeg, says the most difficult part of being in Canada is being so far away from her family.

“It was really hard to do it mentally,” she said of arriving in Canada. “I was struggling a lot to understand that that’s the place where I’m supposed to live, where I need to build my new life, a new life for my kids, that I’m now really far away from things (I’m) used to.”

Reznyk’s mother, father-in-law and sister-in-law left Ukraine after the start of the war but have all since returned. Reznyk says she understands their decision because Ukraine is home.

“It was the most painful because we couldn’t do anything specific for them, we just could be on a call, we just could speak with them, that’s it,” she said.

Reznyk, who works as a software developer, says it’s also been difficult for her children to be away.

“They are struggling because they cannot see the grandmamas or granddads. But that’s the minor thing I think — they are safe, they are in comfort. They can do everything what kids are doing.

“I wish one day we will have a possibility in summer to go to grandma. I don’t know when it will be possible because as for now there are not a lot of changes on the fighting border.”

RELATED: Ukrainians in Winnipeg unite in prayer on 2nd anniversary of Russian war

Family is front of mind for many Ukrainians commemorating the anniversary away from home.

Mila Shykota, who came to Winnipeg from Kyiv in August 2022, says she wants nothing more than to reunite with her mother.

“We communicate and every time I read a news feed and I see the Russian missiles attack Ukraine, I text her and I ask her, ‘mommy where are you? Mommy how are you? Please go to safety, please,’” Shykota said.

On Thursday, Shykota reunited with her sister and niece, who arrived in Winnipeg. The first days together were spent showing the newcomers around and spending time with the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg.

Also Thursday, the family received the news they had been waiting for: Shykota’s mother’s visa has been approved by the Canadian government.

“The first thing I will hug her as much as possible. I will kiss her and I think I will cry because I miss her very much.”

—Mila Shykota, on reuniting with her mother

Shykota says having her family join her in Canada has made the weekend more bearable. She hopes the whole family can be together by summer.

Shykota’s connection to Winnipeg was not random; her husband studied at the University of Manitoba in 2015 and 2016.

“He lived here for two years and I came to visit him that period, so we knew everything about Canada, about Manitoba,” she said. “We had friends in Winnipeg and we knew everything about winter in Winnipeg.”

She admits the transition from Kyiv to Winnipeg was difficult, but it was made much easier with Canadian support and the fact they were both familiar with the city.

“When I just came to Canada I was so impressed how big Ukrainian community in Manitoba is.

“I think on behalf of all Ukrainian newcomers to Canada, I can say we are very, very grateful to everyone who support Ukraine.”

Hope for the future in Winnipeg

Both Shykota and Reznyk are working hard to focus on the positives about their new lives in Canada – and looking ahead to the future.

Shykota, whose dream job is in public service, wanted to work for the Manitoba government. In Ukraine, she worked as a communications manager in the Ukrainian Parliament, as well as for the city state administration in Kyiv.

She landed a job as an administrative assistant with the provincial government in September.

Meanwhile Reznyk is beginning to feel just how much Canada could have to offer.

“I feel that I can take university and start a new career or I can fly the plane and get private pilot licence,” she said. “All of these small things, I have a feeling that I have settled down here more. Much more than it was a year before, because I remember myself last year on that anniversary of invasion, Russian invasion.

“I’m a totally different person now.”