“No mercy.” This is how Calgary Paul Hughes describes Russia's recent attack on Ukraine.
“The city has been bombed by the Shahs, missiles and cruise missiles over the past three hours,” Hughes said on Thursday night to Global News in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
“It has really intensified over the past two to three months,” Hughes added.
“In June, nearly 6,000 shahed (drone) attacks, missiles – it got really bad here. You can smell it in the air. You can see the smoke.”
Smoke rose after Russia's strike against Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, July 4, 2025.
Associated Press/Yehor Konovalov
Hughes has been volunteering in Ukraine since 2022, working on humanitarian work with Canadian charities’ Embrace (Help Ukraine – Grassroots Support).
Weeks after his arrival, his son Mackenzie joined with his son Mackenzie, who has been working with the Ukrainian army to organize relief efforts and humanitarian assistance for those displaced on the frontlines of the war.
Mackenzie was injured in one of the huge Russian bombings on Canada Day.
Fortunately, he is still alive, but the extent of his injury is not yet known.
Mackenzie Hughes, 22, and his father Paul have been in Ukraine since 2022, working to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people through combat on the frontlines of the war.
Courtesy: Paul Hughes
When he got the news of the attack, Paul Hughes hurried to stay with his son.
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“I've been through the last few days – I drove down Halkif right away when I was contacted by his unit, so I've been with him since July 1.”
Mackenzie burned about 30% of her body. He was fixed in the car but was rescued by two other members of his team.
“He's stable, but he's not good,” said Elder Hughes. “You won't be hit by the Shahs, it's okay.”
Mackenzie, son of Calgarian Paul Hughes, provided humanitarian aid on the frontlines of the Ukrainian war, said he was inspired by the heroic valor of the Ukrainian people.
Courtesy: Paul Hughes
Hughes said he has been in touch with the Canadian embassy and some are willing to try to bring their son back to Canada. But Mackenzie said no – he doesn't want to leave Ukraine.
“He is in Kiev here,” Hughes said. “In a burn department specializing in burns. I mean, some of the best doctors in the world are now in Ukraine due to all the trauma of the last three and a half years. So they handle a lot of burns. He is currently receiving extraordinary care.”
Mackenzie Hughes, 22, from Calgary, was found in a hospital in Kiev, Ukraine after being injured in a Russian attack on July 1, 2025.
Courtesy: Paul Hughes
Hughes was inspired by the heroic valor of the Ukrainian people after seeing many innocent people killed in Russian bombing.
“Some people, civilians, mostly civilians, often die from terrorist attacks. On the front line, it is soldiers, but in cities that are purely civilians. It is pure terrorism.”
“It’s the same thing to have a common type of war, frontline and frontline war between soldiers and artillery and artillery and artillery and artillery and artillery and artillery and artillery, but it’s a relentless attack on the civilian population, it’s pure terrorism.”
Hughes summed up our interview and asked his friend to return to Canada to get his son’s thoughts.
“He's a very strong young man and he has a great chance to come back,” Hughes said. “That's my hope as a father. I love my son.”
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
