Woman leaves Ukraine to become a Tennessee Vol

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – After six months underneath assault in Ukraine, Daria Podzolkova lastly made it to Knoxville.

Earlier than the warfare started, Podzolkova remembers sitting in her bed room in Central Ukraine when she bought the information she had been accepted to the College of Tennessee’s Tombras Faculty of Promoting and Public Relations.

“I assume it was the final time I used to be actually pleased,” she mentioned.

Simply hours later, Russia attacked Kyiv, and the warfare started. Days later, areas close to her hometown have been invaded.

“We skilled such a variety of feelings. Everybody was over-stressed, and we have been fully in concern,” she mentioned.

Whatever the warfare’s development, Podzolkova was decided to get to Knoxville. It took greater than 24 hours for her to only make it to Poland. Air journey has been banned since Russia invaded the nation in February.

She confronted a prolonged practice delay when the practice forward of hers was bombed by Russian shelling.

Podzolkova mentioned concern of the warfare light early on for her and lots of Ukrainians.

“This possibly sounds scary, however I feel nearly all of folks in Ukraine are interested by this. You simply attempt to undertake the thought in your thoughts that you simply won’t survive,” she mentioned.

She’s been in a position to keep in contact along with her household and speaks to them day by day. Typically, she will be able to hear Russian air raids occurring over the telephone.

“They’re comparatively advantageous, in fact, you’ll be able to’t ensure. There’s no protected locations proper now in Ukraine in any respect,” she mentioned.

After what she’s skilled, Podzolkova is grateful to be in East Tennessee. She mentioned the journey was well worth the hazard.

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