‘Praying to God for mercy.’ Central Ky. students fear for their relatives in Ukraine.

Angelika Yarynka, 17, a senior at West Jessamine High School, on Monday was waiting on word that her sister-in-law and nephew have made their way from Ukraine to Poland, safe from the Russian invasion.

Angelika’s 28-year-old brother, who lives in Jessamine County., is on his way to meet his wife and son in Poland and bring them to America, she said.

She said nearly all of her relatives live in Ukraine and she is worried about them because they are near the fighting.

“We are just worried we may lose someone,” said Angelika, who moved from Ukraine when she was nearly five. “My family thinks ... it’s preposterous that this is even happening.”

Jessamine County Schools spokeswoman Patrice Jones said the district has 210 students whose families have selected Ukrainian as the primary language spoken at home.

“We likely have a larger number of students with ties to Ukraine when including those who did not make that selection when they registered. “

There is a large Ukrainian Pentacostal Church in Jessamine County.

Mary Cobb, director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries in Lexington, said last week that the Ukrainian population in the area has grown as about 150 families from Ukraine have been reunited with their relatives in Central Kentucky over the past few years through a reunification program for religious minorities who have historically suffered persecution, some dating back to the Soviet Union era.

Yuliia Litvin, 15, a freshman at West Jessamine High School, said she moved from Ukraine nearly four years ago.

She said most of her family is back in Ukraine and for right now are staying put because their small city has so far been peaceful.

“I talked to my grandparents and my cousins and they said they are really scared about whats happening,” she said.

“They are spending their nights on their knees praying to God for mercy,” Yuliia said.

Rachel Chubaruk, 15, a sophomore at West Jessamine High School, said her parents were born in Ukraine.

Her father, Alex Chubaruk, is the president of a nonprofit organization called Christian Mission Ebenezer. The group has nearly 100 missionaries in Ukraine and are using 100 percent of donations to buy necessities and supplies for those impacted.

”This war seems to be completely frivolous. All of these civilians are being torn apart. Their families are completely destroyed. Neither side really wants this. Everyone wants peace,” she said. ”People are dying because of this unnecessary war.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 6:00 AM.