On Ukraine's Independence Day, refugees say 'we want to be happy'

Nadiia Buga says she is very thankful to be in Canada.

But as she and other Ukrainian refugees mark the Independence Day of Ukraine Wednesday, she says she is holding onto special feelings for her home country and hopes the war with Russia will end soon.

"Of course on Independence Day, I want to be at home in Ukraine," the mother of two young girls told CBC News while sitting on the front porch of the Woolwich Guest House, a former bed and breakfast that is now being used to house Ukrainian refugees.

Buga says Ukraine earned its independence and the people have created a country that is different from Russia's.

"We have another history, another traditions, another culture and we want to make our choice, we want to have our lives, we want to be independent, and … only we want to be happy," she said.

"Our kids must be happy because they are [the] future. They must smile, they must be happy. It's very important for us."

No celebrations in Kyiv

Ukraine became independent in 1991. Normally the occasion is marked with festivities. Mariia Mamaisur, who is co-managing the Woolwich Guest House with her husband Andrew Shulgin, says it's similar to Canada Day celebrations.

But this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned there's a heightened threat of Russian attack and public celebrations have been banned in the capital of Kyiv this week.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine started six months ago on Feb. 24. When Russian forces first attacked Kyiv, Shulgin and Mamaisur fled the city and went to a village where his family lived.

In the village, Shulgin says he could feel the heat from the rocket attacks that hit near their homes and they fled again, this time to Poland where they lived and volunteered in a refugee shelter.

They obtained visas and moved to Canada, staying first in Toronto, then with a host family in Kitchener, before finding work at the Woolwich Guest House. Now, they live at the house and co-manage it while helping other refugees to open bank accounts, find work, access health care and get enrolled in school.

That includes helping 17-year-old Yelyzaveta Lebedieva prepare for high school in a couple of weeks. She admits to being very nervous, but says she's felt welcome at the guest house and the support from the community has been "very, very good." She's looking forward to the start of classes to "meet new Canadians and socialize more."

Remember the war

Shulgin says he has seen the support for Ukraine in Waterloo region — the flags in front of people's homes, in windows and on cars. 

He says Ukraine wants to be independent, but Russia's actions are infringing on that.

"It's not fair," he said.

Mamaisur says it's been stressful to move to Canada but they're thankful for all the help they've received.

But as Ukraine marks its Independence Day, she hopes it will remind people around the world about what is happening in her home country.

"I want to ask for help to stop Russia with this war and it's very hard to understand when you're not in Ukraine and you don't feel all this aggression," she said.

"I just want to ask the whole world to [ask] some questions and try to stop Russia, because it's very hard for all our people."