REDDING, Calif. – A former Ukrainian trade student strategies to transfer again to California since of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
After dealing with artillery exploding in the vicinity of her hometown of Kyiv, Irina Kolbun made a decision to go again to California, considerably from the war in her homeland of Ukraine.
“I hear an air raid siren, and I am like, ok, nothing is likely to occur. We have a good security program some days it really is terrifying, and I am worried about my existence,” Kolbun stated.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February. That’s when Kolbun and her spouse and children ran for the border.
“My 1st precedence was to acquire my mom, brother, and canine someplace safe,” she stated. “So we drove to the Polish border and waited about three and fifty percent days at the Polish border.”
Kolbun says she left her career, university and friends behind.
“You sense the force, and you feel a element of the war, and you stroll day by day through the streets loaded with these points. We have a lot of air ideas to the bomb shelters,” Kolbun said.
Action News Now asked Kolbun what daily life was like in advance of the war.
“I just found my initial task as a data analyst, and it felt like it would be improved each and every day,” she explained. “I experienced every single part desired for a fantastic life.”
Carrie Whiting was Kolbun’s host mom when she was an exchange pupil at Shasta High, and they preserved their friendship even immediately after Kolbun returned to Ukraine.
“When she reached out to me asking if she could find asylum in this state, it was a no-brainer. she is like my boy or girl I would give away anything I experienced for her. I am honored to carry her here and give her a superior existence,” Whiting reported.
Kolbun tells Action Information Now she flies into California at the stop of this thirty day period.
A GoFundMe account was made to support Kolbun spend for some of her bills. If you would like to donate, click below.