Sadaf Saleem was packing her children’s lunches in their Toronto home on Thursday morning, watching an early newscast, when she heard that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had begun.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday night that the country would begin a “special military operation” to demilitarize its neighbour Ukraine. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, called the attack “a war of aggression,” and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Russia to cease “hostile” and “provocative” attacks on Ukraine.
Thinking of her children Aya and Elias —11 and nine years old — Saleem knew they might hear about the news during their upcoming school day.
