Ukrainian in San Diego reflects on a year since Russian invasion

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — ABC 10News first launched you to Iuliia Puchko-Wilson a 12 months in the past, again in February of 2022. On the time, Russia had begun its invasion, and Puchko-Wilson’s household was residing within the metropolis of Kharkiv.

She was on Facetime together with her sister that evening and will see and listen to the explosions on the video name.

“It doesn’t really feel like a 12 months has handed. It feels as if it was yesterday,” Puchko-Wilson stated. “I keep in mind it in gradual movement to be trustworthy.”

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A 12 months later, her house nation remains to be at battle resisting Russian makes an attempt to take over. Her household and good friend, who quickly fled for security, are again in Kharkiv, refusing to go away and provides in to Russian forces.

“It’s their manner to withstand and to indicate that it’s Ukrainian metropolis, it’s going keep Ukrainian,” Puchko-Wilson stated.

At house in San Diego, she’s constructed a group of help with new associates who gathered Friday at Balboa Park to rejoice Ukrainian resistance and honor the lives misplaced throughout the battle to this point.

The Ukrainian native says the 12 months hasn’t been simple, remembering the concern and ache she felt for her family members, nonetheless uncooked a 12 months later. Nevertheless, she’s assured her ache received’t final endlessly and that Ukraine will in the future be free.

She is so hopeful that the battle will come to an finish this 12 months and that she’s planning a summer time trip to Ukraine.