Latest news with #H.U.G.S
Global News
04-07-2025
- Global News
Calgary man injured in Russian drone and missile attack in Ukraine
'Unrelenting.' That is how Calgarian Paul Hughes describes the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine. 'For the last three hours the city has been bombarded by Shaheds and missiles and cruise missiles,' said Hughes, speaking to Global News from the darkened Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday evening. 'In the last two to three months it has really intensified,' added Hughes, with the sound of bombs exploding in the distance. 'June was almost 6,000 Shahed (drone) attacks, missiles — it's getting very bad here. You can smell it in the air. You can see the smoke.' View image in full screen Smoke rises after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, July 4, 2025. Associated Press/Yehor Konovalov Hughes has been in Ukraine since 2022 as a volunteer, doing humanitarian work with the Canadian charity H.U.G.S. (Helping Ukraine – Grassroots Support). Story continues below advertisement A few weeks after his arrival he was joined by his son MacKenzie, who is now 22 years old and has been working alongside Ukrainian troops, organizing relief efforts and humanitarian aid for people who have been displaced along the war's front lines. On Canada Day, during one of those massive Russian bombardments, MacKenzie was injured. Luckily he's still alive, but the extent of his injuries isn't yet clear. View image in full screen 22-year-old MacKenzie Hughes and his father Paul have been in Ukraine since 2022, working to deliver humanitarian aid to people displaced by the fighting along the front lines of the war. Courtesy: Paul Hughes When he got word of the attack, Paul Hughes rushed to be with his son. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I've spent the last few days — drove down form Kharkiv immediately when I was contacted by his unit, so I've been with him constantly since July 1st,' said Hughes. 2:15 Russia launches largest drone strike of war on Ukraine MacKenzie has burns to about 30 per cent of his body. He was pinned under a vehicle but was saved by two other members of his team. Story continues below advertisement 'He's stable but he's not OK,' said the elder Hughes. 'You don't get hit by Shaheds and be OK.' Calgarian Paul Hughes, whose son MacKenzie is seen helping deliver humanitarian aid along the front lines of the war in Ukraine, said he is inspired by the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Courtesy: Paul Hughes Hughes said he has been in touch with the Canadian embassy, and there are people who have offered to try to get his son back to Canada. But MacKenzie said no — he didn't want to leave Ukraine. 'He's receiving very good care here in Kyiv,' said Hughes. 'At a burn unit that specializes in burns. I mean, some of the best doctors in the world are in Ukraine now because of all the trauma over the past three-and-a-half years. So they deal with a lot of burns. He's receiving exceptional care at the moment.' View image in full screen 22-year-old MacKenzie Hughes, from Calgary, is seen in a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine after he was injured in a Russian attack on July 1, 2025. Courtesy: Paul Hughes After seeing so many innocent people killed in the Russian bombardments, Hughes is inspired by the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Story continues below advertisement 'There are people, civilians, predominantly civilians, dying on a regular basis from the terrorist attacks. On the front line, it's soldiers, but in the cities where it's purely civilian. This is pure terrorism,' said Hughes. 'It's one thing to have your generic type warfare and a front line and soldier versus soldier and artillery versus artillery, but this is unrelenting attacks on civilian population and that's pure terrorism.' Hughes concluded our interview by asking his friends back in Canada to keep his son in their thoughts. 'He's a very strong young man and he's got a really good chance to get back to form,' said Hughes. 'That's my hope as a father. I love my son.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Community vigils held to honor victims of gun violence in Chicago
CHICAGO – In honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, vigils were held Saturday in communities most affected by violence. One of those vigils, organized by Cornicki Bornds, was held at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in North Lawndale, where dozens of people formed a healing circle for families to share their stories and honor their loved ones. Bornds lost her son Fontaine Sanders to gun violence in 2017. Sanders was a 19-year-old college student when he was shot in the head after he left to play basketball. Bornds started the nonproft H.U.G.S to help others who've lost loved ones. Officials in Cicero announce arrest of suspect in connection with decades-old homicide 'The healing vigil today is to bring recognition to the families because sometimes after the funerals, some people feel like everybody forgot them. So today is the day we bring them back in the spotlight, to let people know we did not forget your loved ones,' Bornds said. Also in the crowd were the parents of Miguel Padilla, who lost their son in 2021 at the age of 41. WGN-TV was at the scene in Logan Square that night. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Chicago police said someone took Padilla's car before shooting him in the chest. The grandmother of Terrance Foster was also in the room. Foster was 19 years old when he was gunned down in North Lawndale in 2021. The families talked about how several of these cases remain unsolved to this day. They're hoping that by continuing to share their loved ones' stories, police can receive information that can lead to arrests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
