Ukrainian woman in Winnipeg trying to bring remains of fallen husband home
A Ukrainian woman who now lives in Winnipeg is hoping one day she will be able to bring her husband's remains to her new home, a place he hoped one day he too would be able to call home.
Hanna Sidorchenko recently learned that her husband won't be able to start a new life in Canada with her as he died fighting in Ukraine.
Her husband Andrii was a drone operator in the Ukrainian army and was recently killed in action.
He was stationed in Bakhmut, the city that has seen some of the most intense fighting since war broke out between Ukraine and Russia.
Sidorchenko said she learned on May 4 that Andrii was killed during a Russian missile strike.
"He was hit by debris of the missile along with two others," Sidorchenko said with the help of a translator in an interview with CTV News.
She said Andrii had a dream of one day making it to Canada himself, a dream Sidorchenko is still hoping to fulfill, even after he passed.
She returned to Kyiv along with Oksana Lazarenko – who has been helping her and her son – to bring home Andrii's cremated remains.
The two returned to a barrage of Russian missile strikes on the capital city and narrowly missed being hit by debris.
"Two houses next to the house I stayed were hit. One was pretty bad, it was an office building. Good thing nobody was there," said Lazarenko.
Unfortunately, their trip was not successful as Andrii's body has yet to be recovered and Hanna had to return home empty handed.
"She still hopes that she can bring him back, his ashes," said Sidorchenko through a translator.
While Sidorchenko waits for another opportunity to bring her husband's remains home, she said she is trying to start a new life for her and her son in Winnipeg.
They both want to learn English and find work.
As they get settled, the community is fundraising for the family to help give them a hand.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.