COLUMBUS, Ind. — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hits close to home for local residents who have ties to the country and are watching news reports with trepidation and worry.
At Olesya’s Kitchen on McKinley Avenue on Columbus’ east side, owner Olesya Whitfield had the news on, watching Russian planes fly over Ukraine as she worked on Thursday.
Whitfield was born in Russia but is Ukrainian, as are both of her parents. She lived in Ukraine for more than 25 years and graduated from a culinary institute in Kyiv. She was 37 years old when she came to the United States.
The invasion scares her — and not just for the sake of her children and grandchildren in Ukraine.
“I’m hurt for our kids, our soldiers, our people and hurt for their people, because they’re somebody’s kids too,” said Whitfield.
She feels that if only mothers from Belarus, Ukraine and especially Russia could convince their sons in the army to set down their guns, it could all stop. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, she thinks, is the only one who actually wants this war, and killing each other would be like “killing brothers.”
One of Whitfield’s customers, who is from Russia, seemed to share the sentiment. As she ate, the two women spoke to each other and later shared a hug — a moment of comfort in the midst of chaos.
They weren’t the only ones watching the situation. Columbus residents Mike and Judy Manna, who lived in Ukraine for 10 years as missionaries, have been in close contact with a number of people from the country they described as a second home.
The couple served in Ukraine from 2002 to 2012. While they were based in Kyiv, they worked all over the country and have maintained a number of friends there. They also keep in touch with their adopted daughter’s family and visit the country for two months each year.
“It’s been hard to sleep,” Mike Manna said.
For the complete story, see Friday’s Republic.
