Ukrainian exchange student tells her story

By Phil Hebrink

We have all been seeing the millions of people being forced to move from their homes in Ukraine. This is one of their stories.

Anna Chop attended Kingsland High School in 2016-17. Age 16, she was an exchange student from Ukraine, with the FLEX program, meaning she earned a scholarship to come to the U.S. for a year of school. Her host family was John and JoAnn Glady, from Fillmore. I was her coordinator. She made many friends during her stay here, and many have kept in contact with her. In 2018, my wife Jane and I went to Kyiv, where Anna just started going to school, to visit her. Her mother Tatiana, who lived in Zaporizhzhia, far to the east, also met us there. Anna is now in her final year of her University studies, writing papers, and doing internships.

The first news I had of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was in a message from Anna, “You are about to hear some disturbing news, but I want you to know that my mom and I are OK, and we are not panicking.”

Over the next few days, we got these messages. Anna shared,  “I am currently in the underground shelter at our campus, in the center of Kyiv, together with my roommate and other students. We have a couple days of food in my emergency pack, and I am as safe as I can be, right now. I expected it to be more crowded, but a lot of people have already left the city. I managed to sleep through the night, so I am proud of myself. Putin doesn’t know what he is signing up for, we will not accept any puppet rule or government he puts here. The Ukrainian government isn’t unreachable, we can and will overthrow it, again, if need be.

“I have no doubts we will persevere, the Ukrainian nation is so strong right now, I love us so much.”

If you remember the news from early March, it was filled with tragic scenes, and the people were fleeing to the west. The Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant was attacked and burning.

Then we received this message, March 3. – “I am still in the bunker located on the grounds of our uni’s campus. I am here together with my classmates. We call ourselves an unofficial “military unit.” ahaha. We have made many friends here. Currently most of us have no intention of leaving, this is our city, our home, they can’t have it! There has been many offers to evacuate, but few have left. There is about 60-70 of us. The dean of the uni has visited us, we are not forgotten. We venture outside occasionally and get our own groceries, there is no humanitarian crisis in Kyiv or in the city center. When there is no air raid alarm, we can go up whenever we want. Many who are no longer here have given permission to use the washer and dryer, use the kitchens, and supplies. Everyone is helping everyone. We have painted a big map of Ukraine with all the regions of where people are from, we put our names on the towns and villages. We also write famous Ukrainian poetry, and songs, and put up some Christmas lights, and a big Flag. We play games before bedtime, most everyone comes down at night, because that is when it is most active. We have been living here for a week now, so the uneasiness is gone. Chemistry students are making Molotov’s cocktails and giving them to our territory defense squads, we donate blood, and volunteer for the military kitchens.”

Then a week went by, and we heard nothing. We watched the news, looking for her, following the progress, always in disbelief that this is happening, hoping she lived through the night, or day, or what ever it is.  I should mention, we had also been in contact with our students from Russia.  They were all horrified by the events in Ukraine, they know the official story is a lie, they do not support their leader, but there is nothing they can do about it.  Many have family in Ukraine.  Many are trying to leave the country, but that has just now become very difficult as well. 

Then this message, March 9. – “I can get your messages, thank you for support. It is more quiet in Kyiv these days, we here less explosions, I spend more time helping around the campus. We are all right, still in the bunker I described to you, but our group, of 5, is planning on leaving for western Ukraine. In the beginning, I was quite adamant to stay here, but now I will go, because too many people are worrying too much about me, so I will remove this burden from the table by going. Many are stuck in a position where you have to choose between two unknowns, and common sense says different things to different people. I decided to pick a way that would keep the group together, cause the community support is essential to my mental well being, – together with them I feel I can do anything, and alone, I would wither away faster than an encounter with a Russian missile.”

This trip would take eight hours normally. Two days later, I got another message. – “I and my ‘crew’ have arrived in the Zakarattia region, (extreme south west of Ukraine) have unpacked, and will catch up on some sleep. Mom is also trying to come here. The train ride leaving Kyiv… it was alright, a lot of people, but it wasn’t hectic. There was a rush when the train was announced, lines formed, but we managed to get on without pushing or anything. It was crowded inside, though. A room for 4 people had 11 in it, each upper bunk had 2 people in it, and the benches below, had to sit upright all night, all day. They got off the train and onto a bus, for an hour ride, and I saw more sunshine than I had seen for two weeks.

“Let’s plan to meet in Ukraine again, preferably in Crimea, ahahaha, This, will pass. It may be extremely sad, painful, and difficult, but it will pass.”

This message came a few days later. – “We are together, everything is all right! We are in Mukachevo, other western Ukrainian town. Everything changes quite rapidly, so i will be quick as well: we will be going abroad tomorrow (we are a group of 7 people: me, a girl from my uni, mom, my brother, mom’s old friend and her 2 daughters). We have a bus arranged for tomorrow to go to the border with Slovakia, we will cross there, take a lil break and then go on, most likely to Germany.”

My reply to Anna, “Thank you for this news. Can you feel the amount of love being sent to you from your peeps in Minnesota, all the people you used to know?  In Wykoff, Cherry Grove, Spring Valley, Preston. School teachers, church families… so many praying… The trap shooting instructor says tell her ‘hi,’ I’m praying for her… Hug your mom from us.”

Anna’s reply, “I think I do feel it, because I am able to stay calm, focused and in mostly high spirits through most of this,  and i believe it’s because i know i have people who care.And my calmness helps the people around me, so the chain of support spreads!”

Monday, March 14 at 9:44 a.m. – “We haven’t crossed it yet and in fact are nowhere closer to it at the moment. Idk, there was a problem in logistics, some miscommunication, some promises that ended up being unsatisfying etc regarding transportation, and this question is still on the table. We definitely will leave today, or so we think  but this has been a mess of a day where everything constantly changes and on top – opinions differ?

“Update, we are already in a taxi, heading for the border.”

Then, later that night. – “We have crossed quickly, were very warmly and attentively welcomed at the other side, given SIMcards, food for the road, etc + provided a free transfer to Košice. Currently we are staying for the night at a local church, tomorrow morning they (local quite fun priests?) will drive us back to the station (it’s both a bus and a railway one) and we will board a train to Bratislava. There is a lady ready to take our families in  waiting for us at her house, and if it doesn’t work out – mom’s good friend is also currently in Bratislava and can provide us at least temporary housing. Everyone we met on our way was just wonderfull, volunteers, are all cinnamon buns?

“Everyone feels like the world, after this war, will be different.  I know we are going to rebuild, and it’s all going to be so much better than before.”

This is the last message I received from Anna. Watching the news, I can say that Anna and her family are extremely fortunate. At the same time, I should point out, Anna’s father is not allowed to leave Ukraine. None of them wanted to leave, ever. They are not celebrating. They were each prepared to shout down the invaders, and defend their home to the last of their strength. They have left behind everything they have worked for, except what fit into a suitcase. They are already talking about rebuilding, and taking back their motherland, somehow.

People want to help, but don’t know how. It can be as simple as a donation to CARE, or UNICEF, or many use Airbnb to connect with a real person in the country, or nearby, booking the tour, and messaging that they would not be coming, this is a donation. Praying to God is also the best way to help. Miracles are happening every day. An army of volunteers are doing God’s work.