Winnipeggers hold vigil for victims of Russian plane crash

Supporters gathered at the steps of the Manitoba Legislature Saturday night to mourn the 224 lives lost in a Russian plane crash Oct. 31.

Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed in Egypt last week. It was flying on auto-pilot and appeared to break up in mid-air after a sudden noise. Investigators said Saturday they still have yet to conclude exactly what brought it down.

• Metrojet Flight 9268: Noise heard on cockpit recording just before crash

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​About 40 people attended the Winnipeg vigil, including Yulia Borsuk and her daughter Dasha Borsuk.

"We came to share the sorrow after the tragedy," Yulia said. "I think it's important to just come and be together for a moment. It brings ... the value of life and appreciation of what we have in this moment."

"It was a really big tragedy for Russia and all of the other countries," said Dasha. "They weren't only from Russia, they were from a lot of different countries and a lot of innocent people should not just lose their lives like that."

Yulia and her daughter came to Canada in 2007 from Moscow, Russia.

Yulia's parents and friends still live in Russia, so they go back every year to visit. This past summer, they flew to Russia and then to Egypt with her parents.

"[Egypt] is a very popular resort area," Yulia said. "We came back — thank God — safely, but I can't imagine the tragedy, all the losses which the families are experiencing right now."