Ukrainian TikTok star documenting life in Winnipeg

A Ukrainian who fled his home country following the Russian invasion is showcasing his new life in Canada on TikTok. Daniel Halmarson has more.

Most Winnipeggers won’t likely remember the first time they felt the biting cold of a prairie winter, or even the first time they tried a fatboy – but one of the city’s newest residents does.

Ukraine-born Andrian Makhnachov is documenting his own ‘fish out of water’ experiences in Winnipeg and sharing it with a massive following on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

His videos rack up thousands of views as he navigates -30 C weather, attends events, and samples different types of Canadian food.

“Honey dill sauce with chicken fingers,” Makhnachov told CTV News Winnipeg on Tuesday afternoon. “I’ve been to museums; I’m just trying to explore as much as possible.”

Makhnachov fled Ukraine in 2022 during the Russian invasion and ended up in Regina to live with his older brother.

“I feel like my move to Canada was not really my decision,” Makhnachov said. “When I came, I was super depressed, angry. I was complaining a lot.”

But those complaints quickly turned into clicks as he shared things that surprised him about Canada, and eventually, sunk his teeth into delicacies like Nanaimo bars and poutine.

“It just became my life,” he explained. “Experiencing Canadian life and trying to become Canadian.”

He’s spent the past four years diving deeper into Canadiana and embracing the country’s friendly, apologetic stereotypes.

“Wherever I go, there’s people saying, ‘We’re sorry,’” Makhnachov said. “I just feel like most of Canadianisms are just so cute.”

Saskatchewan became home base for Makhnachov, but his travels since 2022 have taken him across Canada to Toronto, Quebec City, and Halifax to name a few places.

However, he recently decided to move to Winnipeg – a city bursting with Ukrainian heritage and culture.

“It’s only been six days, but I already feel so welcome,” Makhnachov said. “I think it’s the people that make [it] feel like home. There are so many Ukrainians!”

He said his long-term goal is to obtain Canadian citizenship, but for now, it’s about crossing items off his bucket list to show the world what this city and province have to offer.

“I’m already going to Churchill to see the polar bears, to see a whale. I think it’s an unbelievable thing to experience.”