Leaving Ukraine: The difficult decision for some to flee their homeland amid Russian invasion

Ukrainian American Julia Berozy pleaded along with her family and friends, together with her 62-year-old mom who’s present process most cancers remedies, to depart Ukraine even earlier than the combating first erupted. 

Because the conflict intensified, she pleaded even tougher. Nevertheless, Berozy stated lots of her family members did not know if it was extra harmful to depart or keep within the nation.

It is a dilemma many Ukrainians are going through, Berozy, who volunteers with the nonprofit Nova Ukraine, informed Fox Information. The group offers humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

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Berozy and different volunteers with the nonprofit are providing assist to refugees and their households domestically and abroad. On the similar time, Berozy, who lived in Ukraine for 20 years, can be making an attempt to assist her household get to security.

“The toughest half in the entire evacuation course of was not managing the evacuation, however to persuade individuals to depart,” Berozy stated. 

For some, particularly the aged, strolling for hours or days at a time proves troublesome.

Refugees from Ukraine arrive on the border crossing Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
(AP Photograph/Darko Vojinovic)

“So clearly, it prevents lots of people from even leaving,” she stated. 

However that is solely one in every of many challenges.

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“If they do not communicate [the] language, if they do not have financial savings, it is even tougher for them to go,” she stated. “They’re saying, ‘The place would I’m going? Nobody is ready for me there.’” 

It has been over per week because the combating began and a few nonetheless favor to remain, she stated. 

“I fear that lots of people who determine to depart are going to be in a extremely dire situation,” she added. “Or it could be too late as a result of some bridges should not going to be purposeful anymore … you may’t simply simply drive away.”  

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Berozy’s mom, Maryna, launched into her journey to America on Feb 25., simply after Russian forces began to invade. At first, she informed her daughter she was hesitant to even come. 

Julia Berozy and her mom, Maryna Berozy. 
(Julia Berozy)

“I used to be contemplating to simply come over to you and stick with you for some time,” she recalled her mother saying. “However then I assumed that individuals would assume I am a coward.” 

Maryna Berozy, all whereas battling breast most cancers, packed up one set of garments and traveled into Moldova, Romania and Istanbul earlier than taking a flight to Miami. It took her roughly 10 days to get to security in Florida. 

“First impression: it was actually scary once we awoke at 5 a.m. listening to explosions. It was an animal concern forcing you to run someplace, however you don’t know the place,” Maryna Berozy informed Fox Information via Julia Berozy, who served as her translator. 

She began taking anti-anxiety treatment to calm her nerves. 

“It solely helped a lot. I felt I needed to preserve shifting,” she defined. “Then there was a day filled with stress on a bus and fear that I’ll miss one in every of my planes.”

On prime of that, she continued, “I don’t communicate English and I needed to name my husband to assist me talk with the employees on the airport.”

When she lastly made it to St. Petersburg, Florida, she was overcome with emotion.

“I used to be crying and hysterical and couldn’t cease. The stress of those previous few days was taking up,” she stated. “I needed to take a double dose of anti-anxiety drugs to cease.”