3rd planeload of Ukrainians lands in St. John's

A third group of Ukrainians seeking refuge from the ongoing war has landed in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The plane, carrying 177 passengers according toImmigration Minister Gerry Bryne, departed from Warsaw Tuesday morning and landed in St. John's just after 7:20 p.m. NT.

Yuri Hurievwas one of the first people to come off of the plane. He came from Kharkiv with his wife and four-year-old daughter, Maria. He says they've been studying and learning about their new home, and are excited to begin a new chapter in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We know that Newfoundland and Labrador is a great place to live. Friendly people, and we're looking for a great experience here," he told reporters Tuesday.

"I want to thank you as a people, as a government, as a team behind this journey for us. This is just the beginning for us, but it's a great help. We can't appreciate it enough."

It was all smiles for Anna Severyn and her 13-year-old daughter, Yeva, who said the long flight couldn't take away from their excitement to land in St. John's.

"It's just happiness, exciting. It's very exciting," Anna said. "I'm very glad we are here. It's our new home I think it's going to be alright."

Tuesday has been a long time coming forSergii Plakhtii, who arrived in Newfoundland on the second flight the provincial government chartered in June. Four months later, his wife and child landed on the third charter.

"I wait for months with my family," he said with a large smile on his face.

"It's the best feeling to be together," his 15-year-old daughter,Karina, chimed in. "Really, the best feeling."

The arriving travellers come days after Russian forces bombed the Ukrainian capital ofKyiv, something that has been weighing on Huriev's mind. At least 11 people were killed, while more than 60 others were injured in the attacks.

"It's definitely a stressful time for us. I can tell how hard it is for the people of Ukraine," he said.

Newcomers ready to help fellow Ukrainians

Maruf Mahmudov, a Ukrainian refugee who arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador in June, ispart of the welcoming party. He's now working within the Department of Immigration to help Ukrainian families come to Canada.

"When I'm reading this bad news about what's happening in my country, my heart is breaking and I'm trying not to think about it. But I'm thinking, 'What could happen if my girls and my wife [were] stuck there?'" Mahmudov told reporters Tuesday.

"I'm happy to be part of this community. I'm happy to spread the love to the world as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are doing. And I never expected such a level of hospitality here.... I hope that I will be one of the prouder Newfoundlanders."

Megan Morris, director of the Association for New Canadians, says her group is ready to help with things like finding housing, enrolling children in school, language assessments and more.

"I find it difficult to even surmise what individuals must be feeling at the moment. I can only imagine how awful the last few days have been," Morris said. "We're just so happy that they're here and they're safe."

The Newfoundland and Labrador government set up a help desk in Ukraine near the beginning of the Russian invasion to help Ukrainians seeking to leave the country.

The province chartered flights to St. John's for asylum seekers in May and June, sponsoring about 550 people to come to Newfoundland and Labrador.

By the time the flight lands, over 1,000 Ukrainians will have found shelter in Newfoundland and Labrador, Byrne told reporters Tuesday.

Tuesday's flight is different from the previous two, Byrne said, asfor the first time the government will be loadingsupplies on the plane for the return flight.

The province is sending nearly 4,000 kilograms or over 8,600 poundsof supplies, Byrne said, much of which is medical supplies for use in children's hospitals and orphanages.

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