BU professor speaks about family in Ukraine
Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. Credit: AP/PTI Photo
Overnight on Thursday, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine after a month of amassing troops on Ukraine’s eastern, southern and northern borders. This invasion is the culmination of tensions between the two countries since the 2013 revolution ousted the pro-Russian government.
Dr. Mykola Polyuha, native of Ukraine and professor of languages and cultures at Bloomsburg University, spoke to WNEP about the situation his family and friends are facing in his home country.
“I got stressed, and I could not sleep much thinking about all my friends, all my relatives, and acquaintances who I have in Ukraine,” Dr. Polyuha told WNEP.
The professor’s family lives in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv and are “…preparing for evacuation. They are preparing to leave their homes behind and to move somewhere to the western part of Ukraine.”
Dr. Polyuha said that he has been in contact with members of Penn State’s Ukrainian community.
Polyuha teaches Russian language courses at BU and coordinates the Central European study-abroad program. Dr. Polyuha is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, German and English.
People around the world, including in Russia, have shown support for Ukraine against the invasion as Russian forces push further into the country.
BUnow hopes Dr. Polyuha’s family can get to safety as soon as possible.
