On February 24, 2026 the Ukrainian community in Whitehorse, Yukon joined together to mark the 4 year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and genocidal war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Canadian Association of Yukon would like to sincerely thank everyone who came together to remember, to honour, and to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

We stand with Ukraine because Ukraine stands for something larger than itself: the belief that freedom is worth defending, that sovereignty matters, and that no nation- no matter how powerful – has the right to extinguish another!

Слава Україні ! Glory to Ukraine!

Героям Слава! Glory to the Heroes!

“On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full‑scale invasion of Ukraine — an assault they believed would overwhelm the country in three days. They expected Ukraine to fall. They expected Kyiv to be captured. They expected a nation to surrender.

1,461 days later, Ukraine stands. Kyiv is free.

Russia has failed in its objectives. Russia is failing still. And Russia will continue to fail. Because Ukraine fights with courage, with unity, and with an unbreakable commitment to its own future. Ukraine stands — and Ukraine will endure.

Now, in the coldest winter on record, Russia has opened a new front in its campaign of terror. 

It is attempting to freeze Ukraine into submission, launching relentless and barbaric attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

Millions of Ukrainians now face each day without heat, without water, and without electricity — in temperatures far below freezing. This is the harsh reality that Russia’s criminal war has imposed on millions of Ukrainians.

Russia targets hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings.

Russia has abducted tens of thousands of Ukrainian children.

It has murdered thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

The Russian president has been indicted for genocide.

These are not abstract accusations; they are documented atrocities. They are crimes that demand accountability. And they must be prosecuted — not only to deliver justice today, but to ensure that such horrors are never repeated.

As the Trump administration pursues a foolish policy of appeasement of Russia and the charade of peace talks, Canada and our allies must step up more to help Ukraine.

Canada, the UK, and the EU together have a GDP more than 10 times the size of Russia’s. But we are unwilling to provide Ukraine with the air defences Ukraine needs to protect Ukraine’s civilians.

We are failing the Ukrainian people.

To help Ukraine win – We must help Ukraine close the skies. Give Ukraine air defences. Bankrupt Russia. Seize Russian assets. Embargo Russian energy.  Do it now. Or one day soon it will be the Canadian and allied armies fighting Russia.

We can give Ukraine the tools to defeat Russia and restore peace to Europe.  

It has been four long years of Russia’s full-scale, genocidal war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian people, undaunted, fight on, heroically defending their country.

The world has witnessed a nation that will not bow to tyranny, a people who continue to defend their homes, their identity, and their right to exist.

We stand with Ukraine because Ukraine stands for something larger than itself: the belief that freedom is worth defending, that sovereignty matters, and that no nation — no matter how powerful — has the right to extinguish another.

Слава Україні!  Героям Слава! 

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!“

Lesia Hnatiw,
President of UCAY