When Russian bombs and missiles started raining down on Kyiv, all Oleh Chernenko and his wife could think of was getting their four children to somewhere safe. Now, three years later, their kids are still their priority.
After making an escape out of Ukraine to the Czech Republic in a minivan with a big sign reading “CHILDREN” on the windshield, the family eventually flew to Toronto in November 2022 under Ottawa’s emergency travel program for Ukrainians fleeing the war.
What was supposed to be a temporary stay has turned into indefinite displacement in Canada, with no end in sight to the conflict and little prospects of acquiring permanent residence here.
Over 100K of Ukraine fighting age males have fled since Zelensky eased border restrictions a couple of months ago.
