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For Squamish's Olena Horodyska, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a phone call away.
Most of Horodyska's family remains in Lviv, in the western region of the country.
Her sister's young children — a three-year-old and a six-year-old — are home, as all schools are shut, and the family runs back and forth to a bomb shelter across the street.
"Anytime there's an air raid siren going off, which has been happening a lot," Horodyska said.
Last Friday, the family had to go into the bomb shelter five or six times.
Horodyska was born and raised near Lviv.
According to the 2016 census, 910 Squamish residents listed Ukraine as their ethnic origin.
Horodyska moved to Canada in 2013, when she was 22 years old.
She went back to Ukraine most recently three years ago.
Even when they are in the bomb shelter, the family has internet access so Horodyska has been in contact regularly.
Luckily, her family has been in one of the safest places to be in Ukraine.
The city has taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees.
"People sleeping on floors in churches and schools," noted Horodyska, adding that the locals have welcomed the displaced as best they can.
She said while she kept up with the news and knew things were afoot with Russian President Vladimir Putin, she was shocked when the invasion actually happened about two weeks ago.
I feel like I was in denial, and I did not believe that this was actually going to happen," she said.
"I wish I was there, it would have been easier for me to deal with this right now...I did not think they would cross the border, I did not think that they would just start violently attacking. And I don't know; it's not something that I ever got taught how to deal with. I didn't know how to react and how to feel."
Like many others, Horodyska calls for the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to act by imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
So far, NATO has not heeded these calls.
On Monday, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, Russian forces launched missile and rocket strikes on cities and military targets in northern and southern Ukraine.
Horodyska said while she has never felt ill will toward the Russian people, she feels that is shifting for many, and wishes more regular Russians would rise up against the invasion.
"It is really sad to me that they don't know what's happening. It's very upsetting, and there's definitely a lot of animosities and hate going on between Ukrainians and Russians, especially the past few weeks. But generally speaking, Ukrainians are not haters. We kind people are hardworking."
In Russia, the WSJ has reported "thousands of people protesting the war in Ukraine," were detained for doing so.
As for what Squamish can do, Horodyska said she is planning to gather and send clothing when that is possible, but for now, she said she hopes locals keep up with what is happening to Ukraine.
"A lot of people in this beautiful bubble, this wonderful mountain place, they don't like negative news. I understand. I really do. But sometimes it's upsetting to me," she said. "I do still really hope that people know and understand that something that's happening in the world and not being stopped by anyone is a threat to everyone. It is a threat to democracy in general and to humanity."
Monday afternoon in Belarus, talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives continued, but no agreement was reached.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine has recorded 1,335 civilian casualties in the country (474 killed and 861 injured) between Feb 24 when Russia’s armed attack against Ukraine started, and March 7. The actual number is likely much higher.
More than two million refugees have fled the violence, the UN said.
United they stand
Squamish's Elena Meden moved to the district from Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv 12 years ago, when her son was 12 years old.
Watching what is happening in her home country is painful from afar, she said.
"Sometimes, it is painful even to see normal life around," she said. "When I sit at the dinner table with my son or my mom or my friends, I think, what are my people in Ukraine right now having for dinner? When's the last time they have eaten?"
Meden is grateful to have recently brought her 83-year-old mother to live in Squamish.
"Many elders cannot — if they're on their own — they cannot flee from Ukraine because it takes a lot of effort and somebody has to take care of them and actually navigate the movement [out]," she said.
Her mother's 87-year-old cousin lives on her own and cannot flee the violence.
"She cannot go anywhere. She cannot even go to a bomb shelter because she's too old," Meden said.
And for her mother's cousin, this invasion is reminiscent of the 1940s Nazi occupation of Kyiv, which she survived as a little girl.
"And she still remembers that, so she is just so devastated to see that all over again,” Meden said.
She said because the capital city has been a major target of the Russian attack, she has been unable to reach other relatives and people she knows there.
Like Horodyska, she has attended rallies in Vancouver calling for peace in Ukraine.
"I was very pleased to see that the Ukrainians are so united," she said.
Asked what she says to those in Squamish who ask her what they can do, Meden said:
“Appreciate what you have, stay united and remember that dialogue and strong communities are something that can actually protect in the long run — and appreciate every day.”
She also noted she has Russian friends both in Russia and in Vancouver.
"It is not the people," she said. "A lot of people want to flee Russia now because they're very concerned about what the hell the government is doing.... They're afraid to go on the streets."
Asked what she thinks it will take to see the end of this situation, Maden reflects on the strong spirit and desire for democracy of the regular Ukrainian people.
"Knowing the mentality of Ukrainian people, it might be to the last person alive," she said.
She added that the invasion should be a global concern.
"Any country that has a Russian-speaking population technically can be under attack," she said.
"I mean, is the next Lithuania and Estonia?... There are a lot of Russian-speaking populations. If the same plausible excuse is used. Any country that has a Russian-speaking population, technically, can be under attack," she added.
"I hope that some common sense will prevail and humanitarian aid will be on time and the bloodshed and civilian death and death, in general, will stop. I hope for that. And I'm praying for that."
If you want to donate to Ukraine
Meden noted, it is lovely folks want to help, but be sure the charity is legit.
Here are some suggestions:
*The Maple Hope Foundation.
*For medical supplies, buy in B.C. and ship to Poland via Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster. For e-transfers, email: [email protected]. For credit card donations click here. Take or mail cheques to Holy Eucharist Cathedral: 408 5th Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 2X6
