A Saskatoon nurse who has made multiple trips to Ukraine since the start of the war is back home and turning to dance to help children affected by ongoing attacks on the country’s infrastructure.

Tanya Baran, a registered nurse and medical lead with Ukrainian Patriot, has travelled to Ukraine seven times since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Her most recent trip lasted three months, and she returned to Canada in January.

“This time around, it was definitely much more difficult with Russia hitting our infrastructure. We were limited to power and heat and water,” Baran told CTV News.

Baran said while Ukraine may not dominate headlines the way it once did, the need for support remains urgent, especially for children. Ongoing power outages caused by bombing have forced many schools to shut down, leaving kids without consistent education or safe places to gather.

“They feel it in Ukraine,” she said. “They feel that there is no longer that support.”

Now back in Saskatoon, Baran is working with local Ukrainian dance groups to raise money for resilience sessions aimed specifically at children who are unable to attend school. The sessions provide a safe space for kids to connect, socialize, and regain a sense of normalcy.