From Maine to Ukraine, Part 1

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Friday marks one yr since Russia invaded Ukraine. It marked a serious escalation in a battle that’s been ongoing because the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Within the days surrounding the Russian invasion, TV5 spoke to Mainers with varied connections to Ukraine. This week, we revisited these conversations to see what’s modified – and what hasn’t – over the past yr.

Half one in every of this particular report focuses on one matter that stored resurfacing: the bravery of the Ukrainian folks. (Verify again Friday night for half two.)

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian missiles rained down throughout Ukraine.

Within the days main as much as the assault, Auburn native Troy Barnies was taking part in skilled basketball within the nation, whose folks he obtained to know nicely.

“When it got here to it, they have been prepared,” Barnies mentioned.

Barnies is now taking part in in Poland and lives simply two hours over the border, however he nonetheless retains in contact along with his Ukrainian teammates.

“They nonetheless have a basketball league happening of their nation proper now. They’re making an attempt to stay their lives as regular as attainable,” Barnies mentioned.

Throughout a latest recreation, Barnies was reunited along with his former captain, Andrey.

“After our recreation right here in Poland, we went out, had a few drinks, frolicked, and obtained to catch up earlier than they’d to return to Ukraine the following day,” Barnies mentioned. “He was telling me that they’d a recreation, a Ukrainian crew versus a Ukrainian crew, they usually needed to wait seven hours to complete the sport due to the ability. Due to the siren alerts, they’d to enter the basement, they usually needed to complete the sport.”

“Entering into Kyiv and assembly with Ukrainians themselves and seeing their braveness and absolute dedication was actually spectacular,” mentioned Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

King noticed that very same resolve first-hand throughout his January go to. The journey would’ve come a month earlier, nonetheless he says these plans needed to be modified on the final minute.

“It was the day of the bombing of the bridge. Bear in mind the Crimean bridge? The State Division principally mentioned, ‘This isn’t a great time to come back. We don’t know what the Russian response goes to be. We’re going to must have all fingers on deck,’” King mentioned.

The Russian response did come later that day, and King’s determination to not proceed with the journey proved to be a probably life-saving one.

“Once I was in Kyiv a month in the past, our ambassador confirmed me an image of the restaurant the place we have been presupposed to have had dinner after we have been there that had been bombed out,” King mentioned.

However the destiny King averted is one Ukrainians face day-after-day.

The Tyutyunnyks, who stay in Orono, know that each one too nicely. They’re initially from Ukraine and nonetheless have household and associates again of their residence nation.

“The children are small they usually shake each time there’s an air raid,” mentioned Alex Tyutyunnyk.

The Tyutyunnyks are within the technique of bringing the household of a Ukrainian solider they know, Oleksii, to Maine. They are saying they’re working by way of the paperwork however they see a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel.

“We might be witnessing their peace. The children is not going to must drop to the ground once they hear a aircraft fly by,” Alex mentioned.

Once we first spoke to the Tyutyunnyks in April, they have been hopeful Ukraine would prevail over Russia. Nothing they’ve seen prior to now yr has dimmed these hopes

“Ukrainians have exhausted quite a lot of Russian assets. They misplaced the bravest and the perfect, however I feel the wave is coming for Ukraine and when the liberation begins…” Alex mentioned.

“…It gained’t be capable of cease,” completed Sophia Tyutyunnyk.

The bravery displayed by Ukrainian troopers and civilians alike has been a supply of inspiration for a lot of right here in America.

That groundswell of help within the early days of the invasion was adopted by a large funding by the US.

All of that assist has not come with out controversy, although.

We’ll take a better take a look at that partially two of this particular report, airing Friday evening throughout TV5 information at 6.

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