Calgary's Ukrainian community is marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion

A sea of ​​blue and yellow on both sides of McLeod Highway near Calgary City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Six hundred members of the Ukrainian community in Calgary celebrated the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

They also remembered the thousands of people who died in the conflict.

Narhiza Musaieva came to Calgary two summers ago and said Saturday was a tough day.

“It brought back very painful memories of all the people we've lost, my friends, my family. It is not a holiday or celebration.

It reminds us that the war is on and that Russia is not slowing down. This is a sad moment for me personally and for our society,” he added.

“Although Ukraine has been under Russian aggression for 10 years, this may be one of the most difficult anniversaries that anyone here has witnessed,” said Stefania Romaniuk, vice-president of the Calgary branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

“What the Ukrainians are going through is intolerable, no nation should have to go through a protracted, protracted war. In the heart of every Ukrainian, we want this war to end,” says Romaniuk.

Today was also an opportunity to thank Calgarians for their support of all the newcomers who have come here since the war began, Romaniuk added, and a way to send a message on the second anniversary of the invasion.

“I think there are two options (that) are important to keep in mind. We can stop Russia's aggression in Ukraine, or we can wait until it spreads further throughout Eastern Europe, and this will have even more serious consequences for Canada and our NATO allies,” says Romaniuk.

On Saturday, Canada pledged nearly $3 billion in funding, including $320 million in new military spending.