All very emotional, several Ukrainians in tears attended the ceremony of raising their flag last night in Lévis.
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“I often cry and sometimes have difficulty speaking, but thank you for being here with us. Together, we will survive. Together, Ukraine will win,” said Anna Spirina, a pianist from Lévis of Ukrainian origin.
In front of the town hall, the national anthem resounded before a rather moving minute of silence. The crowd was not large yesterday, but the symbol remains important.
In front of a few dozen citizens, Anna Spirina insisted that her people are still standing. Even if the population sometimes feels helpless, every little gesture counts.
Photo by Jean-Francois Racine
A constant fear
Day and night, the bombardments in her country come to haunt her even from thousands of kilometers away.
“We are asking to close the sky. There are many civilians dying. When I wake up, I always wonder if they’re alive. These are the hardest three weeks of my life,” she added, thinking of her loved ones still there.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been warmly applauded by Canadian elected officials, but the idea of a no-fly zone is still rejected. This difficult situation causes conflicting emotions and a lot of frustration.
“We are not asking much”, ends Mme Spirina, who dares not imagine the next few weeks.
“The Russians have no right! “In particular shouted a young Quebec woman in a long oratorical flight.
The City of Lévis and a local organization also want to welcome and house refugees, but uncertainty persists.
“The number of people to welcome remains very uncertain, but the Tremplin will be ready if necessary for the greater Lévis region,” said President Julien Crozet.
Photo by Jean-Francois Racine
Appreciated support
For his part, Mayor Gilles Lehouillier highlighted the contribution of some 200 Ukrainians and their families who live in Lévis.
“City Hall is the symbol of our democracy. We must realize that our freedom is more fragile than we think. We want to show that we are not immune. What is at stake is the possibility of seeing a Third World War dawn. These are barbaric gestures that are being made right now. »
People’s support is greatly appreciated by the small local Ukrainian community.
“Even I don’t know what to do. It’s awful. I can’t help. I looked for my sister, my mother and my niece, but it’s not easy. It’s not easy to change countries,” says Oksana Malenko, a Ukrainian living in Lévis.
See also
Reference-www.journaldequebec.com