Ukrainian-Canadians who are trying to bring extended family back home are finding it very difficult

At least 600-thousand Ukrainians have fled their country after Russian soldiers crossed the border six days ago. Canada is home to more than 1.3-million Ukrainian-Canadians, many of which are trying to bring extended family home. Something that is proving to be very difficult.

Sonia Handziuk, who lives in Etobicoke says her niece and her niece’s 8-year old son escaped war-torn Ukraine for Poland, leaving behind her husband and brother who joined the army to defend against Russian invaders. Sonia thought bringing them to Canada, to safety, would be relatively straightforward. She has since learned otherwise.
Sonia says her first hurdle was realizing that despite Russian missiles raining down on major Ukrainian cities she says she was told her family isn’t technically considered refugees. “Ukrainians aren’t being persecuted by the Ukrainian government and war is not a reason for claiming refugee status”

Sonia and her family have been navigating a maze of paperwork in order to grant them permission to enter Canada.

Handziuk fears it could take up to four months before she’s reunited with her family.
The Ukrainian-Canadian Congress Hamilton tells CHCH News that at this time local community groups haven’t started the sponsorship process but instead are collecting supplies to send back to Europe.