On the afternoon of Feb. 22, nearly a thousand people braved biting cold winds and drifting snow, gathering at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto—engulfed in a sea of blue and yellow flags—to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and call for peace. This was one of 60 related events across Canada, from Victoria to St. John’s, featuring candlelight vigils, rallies, and discussions. Four years into the war, over one million people have lost their lives, and millions more have been displaced.
Ukrainian-Canadian mother Kate Bokhonko attended with her 8-year-old daughter, holding a portrait of a fallen classmate. She told Vision Times: “He was my classmate. He should have been living a good life, with two children. He could have left Ukraine years ago, but he chose to join the army and go to the front lines… A few months ago, he died on the battlefield.”
Her family remains in Ukraine, enduring nightly missile and drone attacks; she receives daily photos and videos documenting their survival in darkness. In the interview she added: “The war is not over yet. People are dying every day.” Her daughter held a sign reading: “800 Ukrainian children have died in this war.”
Ukrainian flags whipped in the wind as the crowd chanted “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine!). Organized by the Toronto branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the event was part of over 60 nationwide commemorations honoring the more than one million victims, celebrating Ukrainian resilience, and reaffirming Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Voices from teenager to mother
The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year with no end in sight. Russia controls 19.4 percent of Ukrainian territory, gaining just 0.79 percent in the past year. U.S.-led peace talks remain deadlocked. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, total casualties from February 2022 to December 2025 reached an upper estimate of about 1.8 million: Russian casualties around 1.2 million (up to 325,000 deaths—the highest for a major power in a single conflict since World War II); Ukrainian military casualties 500,000–600,000 (up to 140,000 deaths, with Zelenskyy confirming 55,000 military fatalities).
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UN figures report 14,999 civilian deaths in Ukraine (likely higher), over 40,600 injuries, and at least 763 children killed. In 2025 alone, 2,514 civilians died and 12,142 were injured—the highest since the invasion began, a 31 percent rise from 2024. Some 5.9 million Ukrainians have fled abroad, while 3.7 million remain internally displaced.
Vision Times interviewed Ukrainian-Canadian Grade 12 student Alexander Belej at the Toronto rally. Draped in a Ukrainian flag and representing the Ukrainian scouts organization, he told Vision Times: “I come here to support, to show that I care (about this war), and to do whatever I can to end the war.” His sign listed several fallen Ukrainian scouts. In the interview he continued: “They went to the front lines and sacrificed themselves. We must keep fighting and hold on. We hope we can win this war—don’t lose hope.” Belej and peers raised banners together, drawing attention.
His mother, Oksana Buhel, said “My family and I come every year. My husband is Maltese, and the friends behind me are from Lithuania. Attending these rallies is very important—we must uphold world peace and rules; everything is decided based on values. Things are increasingly going off track, so we have to stand up… Ukrainian civilians are suffering missile attacks… It’s terrible.”
Government officials pledging continued support
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, wearing a blue coat and yellow scarf, addressed the crowd from the stage. She highlighted Toronto’s status as home to one of the world’s largest Ukrainian communities and a longstanding center of Ukrainian culture. She recalled four years of suffering, Russian bombings of civilian infrastructure leaving families without power in freezing winters, and the “inhumane crime” of 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and stripped of identity, language, and future. “Bring them home!” she urged, announcing five additional generators for sister city Kyiv—bringing Toronto’s total donations to 17 vehicles and eight generators: “No matter how long it takes, we will keep going.” She pledged ongoing support for refugees with shelter, food, and education.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted the province’s 350,000 people of Ukrainian descent and more than 150,000 welcomed refugees, with open arms for more. He promised continued provincial aid for housing, jobs, and education. He condemned Putin as a “tyrant and barbarian.”
“We can never let him get away with more,” he said, adding that he is proud of his place on Russia’s entry ban list: “I never wanted to go anyway—it’s that simple.” His remarks drew loud applause.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attended and spoke, describing Putin’s actions four years ago as those of a “coward and monster” who assumed Ukraine would fall in one summer but underestimated Ukrainian courage—barbers picking up rifles, farmers climbing onto tanks, teenagers rushing to the front. He praised former Prime Minister Harper’s confrontation with Putin and unified action that turned the G8 into the G7.
Poilievre called for lifting restrictions on Canadian resource exports to supply Europe with natural gas and oil, breaking dependence on Russia and turning “dollars for dictators” into paychecks for Canadians. He stressed that defending Ukraine’s freedom aligns with Canadian values and interests: “Conservatives and all Canadians will stand with Ukraine until victory, independence, and freedom.”
Vision Times also interviewed Jaden Braves, founder and CEO of Young Politicians of Canada and chair of the United Nations Association in Canada for Sustainable Development. He told Vision Times that this war is a shared fight for Western civilization to defend freedom and democratic values: “This is not a battle one country can face alone; it’s a struggle on behalf of every civilization that believes in the basic rights and principles of Western liberal democracy. As a Canadian, I have a duty to ensure we guard the eastern flank—the eastern flank of Western democracy must unite, commit to democratic values, anti-corruption laws, and a strong Western defense line.”
He noted hundreds at the rally chanting the truth and condemning human shields and acts of terror by neighboring countries, including Georgia and Ukraine. He called for close unity between Ukraine and the West, anti-corruption efforts, and strengthened defenses, as this is Canada’s responsibility.
Chinese calling for ending CCP
Chinese-Canadian participants stood out. Mr. Shao, attending for the third consecutive year, criticized the Chinese Communist Party for “blood transfusions” to Russia via oil purchases, technology, and military support: “If there was no CCP support, this war couldn’t have lasted so long. We don’t want war; we call for peace.” Another Chinese-Canadian, Xiang Qinfang, suggested Xi Jinping may have reached some agreement with Putin, leading to Ukrainian displacement, and urged the international community to unite, end the war soon, and help rebuild homes. Mr. Xu, a member of the Alliance of Canadian Democracy, told Vision Times: “All problems in the world are rooted in the CCP, we must end CCP!”
The Toronto rally was one of 60 UCC events nationwide, with simultaneous activities at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Victoria Park in London, Kitchener City Hall, and more. The Ukrainian World Congress organized nearly 1,000 solidarity events in over 80 countries and 750+ cities. Four years of unprovoked Russian land, sea, and air assault have caused over one million deaths and millions displaced. Ukraine has resisted fiercely, recapturing territory, but at immense cost—cities in ruins, winters without power, children abducted.
Since 2022, Canada has led global support for Ukraine with the highest per-capita financial aid worldwide: over $12.5 billion in total aid, $6.5 billion in military assistance (tanks, missiles, air defense, training for 44,000 soldiers and F-16 pilots), freezing and transferring $5 billion in Russian assets, welcoming 300,000 refugees, and imposing severe sanctions. The government led by Prime Minister Carney committed an additional $2 billion in military aid at the G7.
By Ran Xiao
