Ukrainians in the Okanagan mark three years since the start of the war [Video]

Ukrainians gathered outside Kelowna City Hall on Monday, just as they did three years ago.

Maksym Maksvchuk, 17, recalled the day he was in military training when Russia launched a full-scale attack against Ukraine in Feb. 2022.

“We were hiding in a big basement and we heard the rockets come through, maybe next in the next streets over,” said Maksvchuk.

Since then, he, just like the more than 8 million other Ukrainians, have fled their home.

“When you hear that they see their house is no longer there, people lose everything, they completely start their life here. They’re so happy to have their kids,” said Kelowna Stand with Ukraine vice-president, Denys Storozhuk.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian leaders, shutting out Ukraine.

The meeting came as Trump falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war.

“Today I heard, ‘Oh we weren’t invited,’ well you’ve been there for three …