BLITZ INTERVIEW: Natalka Cmoc - Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine - "Russia can end this war by leaving Ukraine. It is that simple."

"In school, in Canada, I often spoke out in class and was sent to the principal's office for arguing with the teacher who would not admit her mistake of saying that Ukrainians are Russian."

Where are you from? And where are you now? Doing what?

I was appointed as Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine in August 2023 and have since lived in Kyiv and absolutely love the city! Unfortunately, it is an unaccompanied posting because of the war so my husband can’t live in Kyiv with me. Nor is he even permitted to visit me which saddens both of us. But it does make us very empathetic to all the families from Ukraine who are living apart from one another. And I have deep respect for those whose spouse or child is serving on the front line in Ukraine.

The war is also personal because I am third generation Canadian with Ukrainian heritage. Both my mother's and father's parents were from Ukraine. They arrived in the 1920s escaping Soviet occupation of western Ukraine in the late 1940s. My father was born in Ukraine and left as a toddler. I was born and raised in Ottawa, the capital of Canada.

Ottawa is interesting because while it serves as the nation’s capital, it exhibits a sense of community - everyone seems to know one another. I grew up with kids in my class from other countries, including diplomats, and children of senators and politicians. We grew up in communities where diplomats were our neighbors and we learned so much from the diplomat kids in our classrooms.

My family and I enjoy going on holidays throughout Canada too. My husband is also a diplomat and together we also lived in Moscow and Berlin.

What kind of studies and work did you do previously? Where?

I studied archaeology and history at the University of Toronto and the University of Alberta, in Canada. I am in forensic anthropology. I was here in the 1990s working on archaeological digs and fell in love with Ukraine. I joined the Government of Canada late at the age of 37 and worked in several government departments and specialized in international development, security, and infrastructure. My greatest pride was working in partnership with First Nation, Inuit and Metis Nation communities to implement changes they requested from Canada, such as co-developing new approaches to community housing and decontaminating land on First Nation reserves caused by military training from decades ago.

Our favorite years as a family were our previous diplomatic posting to Ukraine in 2011-13 where my husband and I were both posted at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv. Returning now as Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine is an incredible honor. I have reunited with people I met here over the years and it is a great privilege to represent Canada.

How has the war in Ukraine changed your life? You personally?

The war has affected me deeply. It’s absolutely personal because my grandparents fought against occupations in western Ukraine where they were from. The Soviet advance and occupation were particularly violent because my family and entire communities resisted.

My grand parent's closest family (parents and siblings) were exiled to Siberia for resisting Moscow’s occupation and religious persecution against Greek Catholics. My own grandparents always said they were lucky to escape for they would have been killed had they remained in Ukraine. They found safe haven in Canada where they could raise their children and grandchildren in a free and democratic society, where they maintained cultural ties as their world centered around the Ukrainian community and church.

However, I was also raised to have gratitude and love for Canada. My parents raised me to celebrate and appreciate our Canadian community for its diversity and inclusion. My parents met in Ottawa as university students working on a student newspaper and were some of the earliest advocates of multiculturalism. I was personally raised with the strong belief that human rights are fundamental and must be actively defended.

I have demonstrated in front of the oviet (now Russian) Embassy since I was a toddler. I often spoke out in class and was even sent to the principal's office for arguing with the teacher who would not admit her mistake of saying that Ukrainians are Russian, or claiming with authority that Ukrainian is merely a dialect of Russian.

I spent many days at the principal's office, and we became friends. He was a wonderful principal who didn't give me trouble for speaking out - and instead asked me to explain. It was with him that I learned at the very early age of eight the power of persuasive speaking by using a calm voice. I see how many Ukrainians have learned this too, always patiently addressing awkward media questions or politely correcting false narratives and propaganda about Ukraine, which unfortunately spread as easily as wildfire.

I see how cultural and linguistic oppression in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories pains those from those regions. People are fighting back and are actively embracing and promoting Ukrainian literature, theatre, history, and contemporary Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian is now the cool language to speak in the trendiest neighborhoods of Kyiv and other urban centers - replacing Russian which, until quite recently was the urban cultured language. Ukrainian movies and documentaries are flourishing, and contemporary political art is very popular. Even the graffiti and public art are political.

(Natalka Cmoc in Okhamatdyt and Irpin after Russian attacks there)

The war in Ukraine has changed me to my core. I am no longer afraid to speak out against lies, evil and propaganda. I am standing up for the values that I hold dear. I have embraced my eight-year-old self again. I see how close we are to losing our democratic values if we do not all stand up for decency, human rights and actively call out the lies and disinformation. I am deeply grateful to all women and men who are serving Ukraine in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. I celebrate those who stayed or returned and are building their communities, speaking out for the rights of veterans, raising children, and protecting the elderly left behind. These are the people who resist evacuation from the front lines. And I am grateful to all the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian partners and volunteers who support Ukraine with training, mentoring, serving as volunteer medical teams, and through friendship and support.

What has surprised you most about Ukrainians these past couple of years? Good or bad?

I am most impressed with Ukrainian innovation, entrepreneurship, and the volunteer spirit. I am surprised when I visit military rehabilitation centers and see numerous men and women healing from serious wounds, including amputations, and I am frankly surprised at their optimism, smiling, laughing and supporting their comrades in arms. I am surprised when they answer that they are working so hard to heal so that they can return to the front as soon as possible to serve with their units.

There are more women at the front than the public realizes. I have met women who worked as manicurists, doctors, teachers, who are now working as medics, snipers and artillery soldiers. These women were not conscripted - they volunteered to be there. They are impressive and I am humbled by their strong will and character. How can Russia win if this is who they are up against?

Being in Ukraine now and witnessing the war this close and personally, to me demonstrates that Russia’s colonial intentions continue to this day.

I am deeply heartened and touched by the remarkable people I have the privilege of meeting. This ranges from the Maidan activists who I now meet as leaders in every sector, to returned prisoners of war who bravely recount their torture and ill treatment in Russian hands. But the common thread in all Ukrainians I meet - whether soldiers, politicians, volunteers or cultural leaders – is they are angry and determined to win. These are people who are impossible to occupy and defeat. Ukrainians who chose to stay in Ukraine are unlikely to leave. And they tell me that they feel more united than ever. Canada supports civil society, women entrepreneurship, rural women – Canada’s feminist agenda is an important contribution, and I believe we are making a very positive difference. I understand that over 50% of new small and medium businesses in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion are led by women

(Natalka Cmoc speaking at Ukrainian Women Congress)

The part I find difficult is reading the news of strikes on residential buildings, schools and hospitals. I hate the news in the morning. It is horrific to learn of how the nightly strikes kill while people are sleeping. I hate reading how entire families or generations of the same family killed in one strike.

I hate hearing from families who are pleading for any news of their loved ones who had been wrongfully arrested, imprisoned and are now being tortured. I meet with NGOs that are made up of the spouses, sisters, mothers of those who are wrongfully imprisoned prisoners of war. There are even people missing from 2014, including over 140 known Crimean Tatars. I hate looking in the eyes of the mothers whose children are kept in temporarily occupied territories or Russia, and worse still, hearing that their kids are now adopted or being trained to join the Russian military and fight against Ukraine. I hate hearing the important testimonies from returned civilians and prisoners of war, recounting the systemic ill treatment and torture. This is what I hate, but it is crucial for diplomats to hear it and bring awareness to this. Canada volunteered to co-chair a Working Group (#4) of the Peace Formula that addresses the return of POWs, unlawfully detained civilians and children because we believe this is fundamental and important. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also co-chairs with Ukraine the International Coalition for the Return of Children. Canada was also proud to hold a successful Ministerial meeting at the end of October in Montreal, bringing together over 50 countries and organizations to sign the Montreal Pledge and help in concrete ways

Canada supports Ukraine with military donations and training, humanitarian assistance, development and security assistance - over $19 billion CAD since the full-scale invasion. And we continue to develop new projects and respond to Ukraine's needs in many areas. Canada also is a leader on sanctions against individuals and organizations, as well as the use of frozen Russian assets to pay for the war and reconstruction. Currently, we are looking at how to encourage Canadian investment in Ukraine, in particular the defense industry and natural resource development, and energy.

What are your future plans?

That is a difficult question because I am so focused on what I am doing now. Representing Canada and our values and strengths is something that I will continue to do in whatever role I take on. It is not just me. The entire Canadian Embassy team is dedicated.

The Canadian members of the team are all here without their spouses, children and pets. They chose to be here in support of Ukraine and to represent Canada. We work hand in hand with the Ukrainian members of our team, without whom we would not be able to do what we do. They serve Canada and Ukraine very well; we learn from them tremendously and I am grateful for their collegiality and professionalism.

I can tell you that the most difficult moment for each of us will be when we need to say goodbye at the end of our posting. It is difficult to leave a country you serve in in peaceful circumstances; it is deeply emotional in a country at war

How do you see the war ending and Ukraine returning to a ‘normal life’?

Just like I have heard Ukrainians note, it is almost surreal when you cross the border and see how peacefully people are living on the other side, whether it be in the rest of Europe or when we land in Canada. It is difficult sometimes to comprehend that the war in Ukraine is not in the news all the time and it is devastating when we occasionally hear: "Is the war still on?" On the other hand, my appreciation for peaceful living is much higher. Perhaps I had taken democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, and travel for granted. I have come to also appreciate the time I do have with my husband and adult children. I also value my own time and freedom far more.

We need to remember that Russia can end this war at any point by leaving Ukraine. It is that simple. I believe this war will not be truly over until Russia is held accountable for its crimes against Ukrainians. Normalcy for Ukrainians will take generations as families heal and reconnect but believe Ukrainians when they say they will rebuild stronger. Ukraine, a sovereign and independent country, has chosen its path to be part of the European Union and NATO.

As diplomats in Kyiv, we are working in partnership with Ukrainians to help realize their goals. I believe these goals are achievable and will enrich Europe and NATO partners.

Tell us one thing you don’t think people abroad know about Ukraine – but they really should?

Ukrainians have an incredible sense of humor. Apparently, they are born funny, smiling, and with great singing voices! And they resist and fight for what they believe. I often hear that Ukraine should have lost by now if you think about the size of Ukraine compared to Russia - they are fighting a nuclear power, with a much larger economy and army. They are still here and fighting - much to the surprise of the rest of the world. When the full-scale invasion started, communities didn't wait for the national army, they organized themselves, and defended their communities at a great cost. One just needs to visit Bucha and Irpin to understand what those communities faced and fought in the first weeks in February and March 2022.

Recently, the Canadian Embassy proudly joined the send off for Team Ukraine to the Invictus Games in Whistler Vancouver 2025. I know they received a warm welcome in Canada too. We are immensely impressed with the team members that are representing everything remarkable about Ukraine right now - bravery, determination, collegiality - all done with remarkable character and always with humor, a smile and a pat on the back of their teammates cheering each other on.