Dionte Berry
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The invasion of Ukraine is at the forefront of public attention, and although the conflict is nearly 5,300 miles from Murray State, people with ties to the University are affected by the crisis. 

The Russian military launched an invasion of Ukraine by air, land and sea on Feb. 24. 

A former student, whom The News will refer to as John Smith for his own privacy and protection, is a business administration major who attended Murray State during the Fall 2021 semester. Smith, who is now back in Ukraine, was shocked by the idea of war in his country.

“I didn’t believe that a full-scale war was possible against my country,” Smith said. “So I woke up at 4:20 a.m. because a lot of notifications started coming to my phone, because at 4 a.m. by Ukrainian time Putin started the war.”

Smith said prior to the invasion there were rumors and speculation concerning possible Russian action.

“This began to heat up two weeks ago,” Smith said. “There were a lot of views about the movement of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, including from Belarus. It’s not the first time a similar situation has happened to Ukraine, and we were sure that this was another political game and a demonstration of Russian power to us.”

Smith is in a part of Southeastern Ukraine bordering the Black Sea that has yet to be invaded, but he is preparing for it. 

Smith’s family is in Eastern Ukraine, which is closer to the points of Russian invasion, but Smith said they are safe.

“My family is in a part that is currently occupied by the Ukrainian army,” Smith said. “It is a territory controlled by the Ukrainian army, and I hope it will be like that in the future too.”

In preparation of possibly having to take shelter underground, Smith has gathered his valuables, organized a first aid kit and other goods. 

Smith has seen the role Russian media has played in fueling and justifying the invasion, but he said it is all an act of propaganda and not to believe it. Russian media has accused the Ukrainian military of being the aggressor, but it is really the opposite. 

“Russia declared that Ukrainian armies were shelling the territories and residential buildings of the so-called Donetsk People Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, and they said the Ukrainian army blew up a military vehicle in the city center … and a border checkpoint,” Smith said. “But this is not the case. No one shelled any cities or border crossings.”

Both Donetsk and Luhansk are territories on the Russian and Ukrainian border seeking independence from Ukraine. This dispute became the starting point of the invasion. 

According to a piece by NPR reporter Joe Hernandez, titled “Why Luhansk and Donetsk are key to understanding the latest escalation in Ukraine,” Russian military were deployed to the region for peacekeeping purposes, which is believed to have evolved into the invasion of Ukraine. 

Smith said the video of the supposed Ukrainian attack on the territories was analyzed and debunked as fake. Russian propaganda has stated the invasion is focusing on Ukrainian military targets, but Smith said this is far from true.

“[The Russian military] are sending their missiles not only to military targets as put in reports, they’re shooting at residential areas,” Smith said. This morning, [Feb. 26], a rocket hit a residential multi-story building in the city center of Kyiv.”

After being attacked by Russia, Ukrainians have rallied by the side of their military. Smith himself has donated money to the military. 

“Ukraine is united as never before, and everybody could see that everyone helps the army in any way they can. Many go to the territorial defense, help catch saboteurs in the city, prepare Molotov cocktails and transfer money to the army,” Smith said. “But unfortunately it is not enough. It’s not enough to fight such a huge country.”

Smith said Ukraine needs international support in the form of first aid and military supplies as well as monetary donations, and he said those who aren’t able to send aid can still support the effort by spreading information about what is truly happening to disperse Russia’s misinformation. 

Back in Murray, Kentucky, Olha Burak is a Ukranian graduate student working toward her master’s in business and marketing. 

Burak and her family are from Western Ukraine. Her extended family is from Kyiv, Ukraine, but they have relocated to a safer city in the West. Her family is far from the frontlines of the conflict, but they are still preparing for invasion.

Despite being across the world, Burak helps her family by keeping them informed on the news being reported concerning the invasion and Russia’s progress into Ukraine. 

“My mom called me today and asked what was on the news, because the news here is  faster than the news they can get in Ukraine, and [the news here] provides more information about, like, where planes are going,” Burak said. “She asked me to be on the lookout and tell them if the Russian military is going toward where they are, and let them know, but for now they’re safe.”

To keep her parents informed, Burak has a group chat with some of her friends from Ukraine who are also in the United States that serves to keep everyone updated on the news. 

Burak has friends from California, Illinois and New York, as well as Ukrainians she befriended while she played tennis for the University of Tennessee at Martin. Beyond sharing news, they act as a support system. 

Aside from friends, Burak has also gotten support from the University.

“My professors and the President of the University even emailed me,” Burak said. “They gave me extensions on some of my assignments just because the invasion started when they were due, and I really appreciated it.”

Beyond sharing news back home, Burak is trying to find other ways to contribute, such as gathering monetary donations and supplies. 

 For those who are able to donate and support the efforts of the Ukrainian military, donation funds have been dedicated to the crisis. Organizations such as Global Giving, the International Rescue Committee and Care have set up Ukrainian relief funds. 

Also, the “Kyiv Independent,” a Kyiv-based news organization who has been covering much of the war, has set up a GoFundMe dedicated to maintaining war coverage.

United Nations’ programs, such as the World Food Program and UNICEF, also have set up relief funds for Ukraine.

“Ukraine is its own country; it’s never been part of Russia. It has its own language,” Burak said. “It has its own traditions. There’s a lot of Ukrainian people that are not giving up.”