Kichenok fled the nation after the struggle began and wanted 31 hours to get from Kyiv to Moldova along with her mother and father. Her twin, Nadiia, additionally a part of Ukraine’s group, left Kyiv simply earlier than Russia invaded, touring to California along with her husband.
“It was two days of hell for me till they acquired to a protected place,” Nadiia stated of her household. “I had fixed panic assaults. I by no means skilled something like that, like 40 minutes your physique is shaking, and also you don’t know what to do moreover deep breaths.”
The Kichenoks’ father, who’s 64, has since returned to Ukraine and tried to volunteer for the navy regardless of exceeding the age restrict.
“They advised him, ‘Grandfather, return dwelling,’” Nadiia Kichenok stated. “‘We have now too many individuals right here. We are going to name you after we want you.’”
Yastremska, 21, fled Odesa, her dwelling metropolis, along with her 15-year-old sister, Ivanna, crossing into Romania after saying goodbye to their mother and father on the Ukrainian facet of the Danube River. The sisters have been touring on tour collectively for practically two months whereas their mother and father stay in Odesa, the place certainly one of their duties has been organizing aid efforts by way of Yastremska’s charitable basis.
Unable to return dwelling, the Yastremska sisters stay with no fastened coaching base, however they may head subsequent to Madrid to organize for the clay-court season. The Kichenok twins will journey to Stuttgart, Germany, for a event, and Zavatska will return to Cannes, France, the place she is sharing her small residence along with her mom and different relations who fled Ukraine.
After every week of togetherness and a ultimate night time of karaoke with the Individuals on Saturday, the Ukrainians will transfer on, however with the hope that Asheville and the broader world don’t transfer on too shortly.
“I don’t need individuals to get used to this grief that we’re experiencing,” Nadiia Kichenok stated. “We don’t need individuals to be sorry for us. We wish them to remain sturdy with us, combating for freedom and humanity.”
