Local Ukrainians share war stories

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Mykhailo Kovalchuk was living an ordinary life as a mechanic.

That changed overnight. He put down his tools and picked up a weapon, joining the Ukrainian military to defend his homeland. Now, more than a year after being wounded in the battle, he has settled in Brandon, trying to rebuild his life while carrying the memories of war.

Kovalchuk had no prior military experience when war came to Ukraine’s doorstep. But like thousands of others, he felt an obligation to defend his home.

“If people like me didn’t stand there, Ukraine will not survive,” Kovalchuk said. “Russia didn’t come to negotiate. They came to destroy our homes, our families, our peaceful life.”

He was stationed in the Kharkiv region, where Ukrainian forces faced overwhelming odds.

“It was one Ukrainian soldier for every 10 Russians,” he recalled. “The fighting was intense, and every day, we saw what they were doing to our cities and our people.”

Kovalchuk witnessed scenes most people only glimpse in news reports. He remembers sitting with friends over coffee one day, only to lose them to enemy fire the next.

“I’ve seen towns the size of Brandon wiped off the map,” he said. “There are places where not a single building is left standing because of Russian bombings. People either fled or died.”

The brutal battles took a personal toll. Kovalchuk was injured in combat when a drone attack left him with wounds to his hand and leg. Forced to leave the front line, he underwent rehabilitation.

“It’s hard to accept that you can no longer fight while your friends are still out there,” he said.

Following his recovery, Kovalchuk made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine. His mother remained in the country, while his father continued fighting. His path led him to Brandon, where his mother’s sister lived. With family support, he found a way to settle, but emotionally, the transition has not been easy.

“Physically, it was easy because I had help,” he said. “But mentally, it’s different. You try not to think about the war, but it’s always there.”

Now in Brandon for more than a year, Kovalchuk has returned to working as a mechanic. He tries to focus on building a new life, but his thoughts remain with those still in Ukraine. He also follows international politics closely; particularly how foreign leaders discuss Ukraine’s future.

Like the former soldier, Oksana Golovka never imagined she would be forced to leave her homeland. Now, two and a half years later, she is rebuilding her life in Canada, co-owning the Multi Cook food store in Brandon while keeping a close watch on the worsening situation back home.

Originally from Lutsk in western Ukraine, the entrepreneur was among the many who fled the war’s uncertainty. For the first six months after the invasion, she sought refuge in Germany with her family, including her mother, brother and his wife and children. But uncertainty lingered, prompting her to apply for a resettlement program in Canada.

“We chose Canada because we saw and still see opportunities here,” Golovka said. “We wanted to build a new life, not just sit and wait. Canada is a good country with good opportunities.”

With the support of Ukrainian-Canadian Association Tryzub in Brandon, Golovka and her family found a sense of belonging. The assistance from fellow Ukrainians helped them navigate their first few months, providing answers to pressing questions and guiding them through the resettlement process.

Before the war, Golovka had a stable career in Ukraine. She spent 10 years working for Ferret, a company that supplies equipment to cafés, bars and restaurants. She gradually climbed the ranks from sales to management, only to see her life uprooted by the conflict.

“Our company, like many others, was affected by the war,” she said. “At the beginning, everything shut down. Businesses in the east of the country were devastated. But later, some, including Ferret, managed to reopen.”

Though she left behind an apartment and a car, she considers herself fortunate. Many of her relatives remain in Ukraine, including her father, who is retired but still faces uncertainty amid the war’s ever-changing dynamics. Her last visit home was a year ago, and she continues to check in on friends and family through messages and news updates.

Despite western Ukraine being far from the front lines, safety remains elusive. “In the last few weeks, there have been constant air raid alerts and bombings,” Golovka noted. “Even those who never planned to leave before are now considering it for their children’s safety.”

For Golovka, Canada has not only provided refuge, but also the opportunity to achieve something she never had in Ukraine — owning a business. Last month, she co-founded Multi Cook while continuing to work in the livestock industry.

“I never owned a business in Ukraine. I always worked for someone else,” she said. “Canada allows anyone with ideas and determination to turn their dreams into reality.”

While she is grateful for the fresh start, she still misses her homeland.

“I miss my friends, my community. In Ukraine, I was surrounded by my people, my language, my culture,” she said. “Starting over is challenging — learning a new language, finding a job, going through interviews in a different system. But the support from the Ukrainian community and Canadians has made all the difference.”

For Kristina Kochubii, the war in Ukraine is not just a distant conflict reported in the news — it has shaped her life for nearly a decade. Having fled central Ukraine two years ago with her three children, she now calls Brandon home. Yet, the war’s impact continues to loom large over her family, both those who made it to safety and those still in Ukraine.

Kochubii’s awareness of the Russian invasion dates back to 2014, when her former husband fought in the initial conflict.

“When the full invasion started, it wasn’t far from my town. There were constant attacks, and I knew people who were killed,” she recalled.

The safety of her children became her primary concern.

“No one can understand the fear of sending your kids to kindergarten and not knowing if a rocket will hit that day.”

The psychological toll of living under siege was immense.

“Every day, alarms would go off multiple times. At first, it’s terrifying, but then you get used to it — your body just absorbs the constant anxiety,” she said.

The alarms meant missiles were on the way, forcing families into basements or, if no shelter was available, the most enclosed space in their homes.

“If a rocket hit directly, nothing could save you. If it landed a few blocks away, maybe your bathroom would protect you from the blast,” she explained.

Despite her desire to stay in Ukraine, the relentless fear for her children’s lives forced her to make the painful decision to leave. Now in Brandon, she faces a different set of challenges — particularly with child care.

“There is a serious lack of kindergarten spaces here,” she said. “In Ukraine, there were more options for children, even indoor play areas for winter. Here, it’s hard when winter comes, and kids are stuck inside for months.”

While she has found relative safety in Canada, her thoughts remain with her parents, who still live in Ukraine. She speaks with them often, trying to gauge their well-being in a country still under attack.

“They have adapted to this reality,” she said. “They say they’re okay, but you never really know.”

Despite the pain of what he endured, Kovalchuk remains hopeful.

“Ukraine is still standing,” he said. “And as long as people like my father are fighting, we will not fall.”

Ukraine’s struggle is deeply tied to its national identity and history, Tryzub president Vartan Davtian told the Sun.

“Ukraine is a nation built on freedom, referencing the national emblem, Tryzub, as a symbol of that freedom,” he said in an interview. “Souls and bodies we’ll lay down, all for our freedom and we will show that we, brothers, are of the Cossack nation!”

Davtian said “during centuries, many dictators” have attempted to suppress Ukraine’s independence, but its people have always stood firm. “Putin or Trump does not understand simply that you can’t bully the leader of a nation whose symbols represent freedom,” he added.

Kovalchuk expressed frustration with U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on the war.

“Trump lives in a different reality,” Kovalchuk said. “He doesn’t understand what’s happening, and he doesn’t care about Ukraine. Ukraine is not just fighting for itself — it’s fighting for democracy in Europe. If Ukraine falls, it will encourage others to follow Russia’s path.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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