鈥淎 few months before the war, it felt like something would happen. In some ways, I was prepared; I had a medical bag, lots of medicine and food,鈥� recalled Sasha Mushkudiani days before her life changed forever on Feb. 24, 2022. 

鈥淚 was getting ready to make the trip to the U.S. and at 4 o'clock in the morning, my husband called and told me 鈥楽asha the war started鈥� and we started to hear explosions.鈥�

Living 鈥渧ery close鈥� to the Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv, Mushkudiani鈥檚 daily life was thrown into chaos. 

In constant fear of the next air raid heralded by the dreaded sirens echoing from all corners of the city, it didn鈥檛 take long for the woman to see the impact of the war. 

鈥淢any civilian cars were shot by Russians,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ars with kids, cars with older people. They knew that those people were civilians and they killed them.鈥�

More than two years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Mushkudiani left Ukraine after a rocket struck near her home.

鈥淚 had a feeling that the whole building jumped,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter that, I realized that I could not concentrate on my job with all the sirens going constantly. I did not sleep for two years.

鈥淪ome tasks I would do in 15 minutes took me four hours.鈥�

Moving to the Island in May 2024, the newcomer now supports her parents in Ukraine, who remain on her mind every waking moment.

Mushkudiani, along with some of B.C.'s 11,000 Ukrainian refugees and Greater Victoria residents, braved the rain to honour lives lost as the war marked its third year. 

A ceremony organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Centre began at 2 p.m. (Feb. 23) with a human chain along Victoria鈥檚 Douglas Street, followed by a car rally to the B.C. legislature at 4 p.m.

鈥淲e鈥檙e gathering to remember our fallen soldiers and victims of this war,鈥� said organization president Andriy Fabrikov. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to stay together, strong as a community, and say thank you to Canada for all the help.鈥�

A tradition that started in 2022, Fabrikov believed it was his duty, and that of his organization, to keep the conflict at the forefront and not forget a war he never expected to happen.

鈥淣obody expected this to be lasting for three years. Everybody was thinking probably it would be a couple of weeks, maybe one or two months maximum. However, it's already year three. It's very scary.鈥�

Despite all the horror and misery brought by war, both Fabrikov and Mushkudiani found a silver lining. Both witnessed a national story of strength and resilience.

鈥淚 understood how strong our nation is because we just helped each other in any moment,鈥� said Mushkudiani. 鈥淲e did not have electricity, we did not have heating. However, our restaurants were open with generators. Our teachers were giving lessons, even without electricity, in cold apartments.鈥�

Though two expressed "frustration and anger" at the ongoing war and U.S. President Trump鈥檚 recent claims 鈥� calling Zelenskyy a 鈥渄ictator鈥� who prompted the war 鈥� their spirits remain high.

鈥淚 feel tired and disappointed, however, I still feel hope,鈥� said Mushkudiani.

Amid recent threats from Trump to declare Canada the 51st state and a potential tariff war, Mushkudiani is proud to call Canada her home for now.

鈥淚 feel it was a very good choice to come to Canada,鈥� said Mushkudiani smiling. 鈥淚 feel like now we are on the same boat.

鈥淐anadians opened their hearts to us and I do feel like a valuable member of society here. They are giving me the hope that the good will prevail.鈥�