Alla Yakamiv and her husband have family spread across Ukraine, some preparing to evacuate if necessary, others currently unable to get out.
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio - Alla Yakamiv immigrated to the United States from Lviv, Ukraine as a young girl in 1998, and said she’s heartbroken by the footage of Russian troops invading her homeland., Yakamiv has asked neighbors and other NE Ohio residents for prayers for the family she still has in the country.
Yakamiv’s husband, who is also Ukrainian, has family near the capital of Kviv and Alla said they couldn’t evacuate the area for health reasons. Even with the eyes of the world focused on the conflict, for Ukrainians both on the ground and abroad, the feeling is universal. When asked about how prepared and willing Ukrainians are to protect their homes and keep their independence, Yakamiv says it’s a part of their culture and identity.