Editor:
On the morning of Feb. 24, 2022 I awoke in my city of Melitopol to the deafening sounds of explosions. The Russian army had started a full-scale war against my country of Ukraine.
A few days later, grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied. Every day at 4 a.m., people lined up for humanitarian aid and stood on the street in sub-zero temperatures. For a very long time there was no electricity, television, Internet or mobile communications.
What scared me the most was the unknown and the constant, never-ending explosions. Nobody knew what would happen next.
It became unsafe to stay in Melitopol, and many residents began to leave.
Mayor Ivan Fedorov and his team refused to cooperate with the invaders.
On March 11, 2022, he was kidnapped by the Russian military and forced to sign a letter of resignation and transfer powers to another person. After being exchanged for nine Russian soldiers on March 16, Fedorov has continued to fulfill his duties as Melitopol mayor from the unoccupied city of Zaporozhye. I am personally grateful to him and his team for everything they have done.
I continue to communicate with my best friend who stayed in Melitopol. Residents have had their businesses appropriated and the Russian army listens to telephone conversations and checks peoples’ phones to identify those who resist the Russian occupation.
Today, one year later, my city and much of Ukraine continues to be occupied. Russia continues to commit war crimes.
Ukraine needs the support of the whole world and military assistance in order to de-occupy all its territories as soon as possible. Thanks to every country that has provided and is providing assistance to Ukraine.
Ihnat Smyrnov, a citizen of Ukraine who is currently a Grade 11 student at South Delta Secondary
