‘You want a hug.’ Ukrainians in North Texas worry about family during Russia invasion
When Oksana Miller heard the news that Russia invaded Ukraine where she grew up, she was on edge, and spent the day texting family and friends.
“It’s been pretty crazy. I’ve been crying and sending text messages trying to contact my parents and other family,” she said.
Miller, who married an American and is the director of the Lionheart Children’s Academy in Plano, said she was following the news about the Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders, but she was saddened by the invasion of her homeland.
She described finally contacting her parents who live in an older part of downtown Kyiv, the nation’s capital.
She said that her parents have no intention of leaving Ukraine.
They described awakening to loud noises Thursday and discovered that the Russians had invaded their country.
“They are staying calm. They’ve been preparing themselves. It’s pretty devastating. You just never thought that the Russians would do what they are doing,” she said.
Miller also has a sister and brother-in-law who live outside of Kyiv.
Miller’s parents told her that there are shelters open, and the Ukrainian government is trying to keep people calm.
Chrystya Geremesz, a founding member of the Ukrainian American Society of Texas, said Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, must be stopped at all cost.
“I think it’s important to see what’s at stake here. What’s at stake here is Ukrainian democracy and democracy of the world,” she said.
“If Putin is successful, there will be others that follow.”
She said that the destabilization and disrespect of international law will bring us to World War III.
”We all feel that what Putin is doing is very evil. Dictators don’t consider human life,” she said.
Olga Velikanova, a professor of Russian history at the University of North Texas in Denton, said she was shocked and depressed by the news of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
She said it is important to remember that Putin, who came to power in 2000, does not play by the rules.
Velikanova lived through the fall of the Soviet Union and remembered the hyper inflation and other hardships.
She described Putin as a leader with a 19th century mindset, and worries that he will take the entire country of Ukraine.
“The west, with its norms and values has a difficult task of bridling Russia that doesn’t play by the rules. I would add that one of the major characteristics of Russia during the past two centuries is its unpredictability,” Velikanova said.
”It can surprise us at any moment.”
She said Putin lives with the 19th century notion of domination and power, but now we live in the age of information and technology where territory is not so important, she said.
Ralph Carter, a political science professor at Texas Christian University who specializes in Russian history, said he wasn’t surprised that Russia invaded Ukraine after troops moved into the eastern part of the country controlled by separatists. When Russian soldiers came through an area of neighboring Belarus close to Kyiv, Carter said he grew more concerned.
“I thought they’re not going for the little nibble, they’re going for the big bite,” Carter said.
Carter described Ukraine, which is the size of Texas, as an economic engine with many key resources including uranium. It is also a large food producer with vast stretches of prairie, and Ukraine is a leading wheat exporter to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Miller said she is doing her best to stay calm as she communicates with family on social media and via text messages.
She said her parents and brother-in-law have no intention of leaving and are ready to defend their country. Her brother-in-law is a pastor and doesn’t want to leave his congregation.
Yet, she misses her family.
“Of course, you want a hug, you want an embrace from your mom,” she said.
Tom Sanchez of Irving went to Ukraine for language lessons. He’s choosing to stay.
Sanchez sent several emails to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram describing his experiences.
When the invasion began early Thursday morning in Ukraine, Sanchez said he awoke to explosions nearby.
“I live in the city center here. This is home here,” Sanchez said. “I can leave. Unfortunately the people around me cannot.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2022 at 5:15 AM.