'Scared every day': Montrealers march for end to violence in Ukraine, many call for no-fly zone
Maryna Krejcarova says she hasn’t been able to sleep since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a month ago.
"We are scared every day," she said. "We are waking up checking the news from Ukraine. I can’t tell you they’re fine because they’re not."
Krejcarova, who is part of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, marched through the streets of Montreal with hundreds of other demonstrators Saturday.
The demonstration began with recordings of air raid sirens. Many of those there called for peace in the region and echoed calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for allied leaders to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
"Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into the source of death for thousands of people," said Zelenskyy, appearing before the United States congress by video conference on March 17. "I call on you to do more."
"We need you right now,” he added. “The destiny of our country is being decided."
READ MORE: Zelensky invokes Sept. 11 terror attacks in appeal to U.S. Congress
Hundreds of Montrealers gathered in downtown Montreal calling for an end to violence in Ukraine and for world leaders to enforce a no-fly zone in the country's airspace on March 19, 2022. (Angela MacKenzie, CTV News)
Hundreds of Montrealers gathered in downtown Montreal calling for an end to violence in Ukraine and for world leaders to enforce a no-fly zone in the country's airspace on March 19, 2022. (Angela MacKenzie, CTV News)
U.S. President Joe Biden, who said he listened to Zelensky's speech at the White House, did not directly respond to the criticism that the U.S. should be doing more for the Ukrainians. But said the country is "united in our abhorrence of Putin's depraved onslaught, and we're going to continue to have their backs as they fight for their freedom, their democracy, their very survival."
A no-fly zone is "absolutely vital," according to Ukrainian Canadian Congress Executive Council Member Michael Shwec. “The only planes that are flying over Ukraine right now are Russian planes that are bombing the country."
On March 22, a free benefit concert will take place at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica. The Korwin-Szymanowski foundation, which organized that event, will accept donations in support of humanitarian work at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has also been collecting first-aid materials to ship overseas to aid civilians.
-- For more details on the demonstration, watch CTV News’'Angela MacKenzie’s report above. This article was published with files from The Associated Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.