Russia-Ukraine War: Arizona family unable to travel to Europe to help Ukrainian refugees due to money

Arizona couple raises money to send Ukrainian refugees, family overseas

PHOENIX - Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, members of a Ukrainian family living in Arizona City are doing everything they can to help their loved ones still stuck in the war-torn country.

The majority of Konstantin Lukashevich‘s family is in Zaporizhzhia, the site of Europe's largest nuclear power plant that was shelled by Russian forces on March 3, and captured on March 4.

"They’re worried for their lives," said Konstantin, who is a Ukrainian citizen, in an interview on March 4. Konstantin's brother, sister, nieces, nephews and cousins are all in Ukraine.

"I was able to get in contact with almost everybody today, with the exception of my niece, who is in Kyiv with her husband. They’re in a bomb shelter there," said Konstantin, on March 4. Konstantin's family members are running low on food and water, and they have been in an underground bomb shelter for more than a week.

Meanwhile, Konstantin's sister has been facing her own struggles as Russian forces continue to move in. "It's kind of hard being day 11 to stay hopeful, and she's kinda losing hope," said Konstantin, in an interview on March 7.

Konstantin's sister told he and Melissa, his wife, that there are Russian troops lined up through the city, and she's worried that this may be the calm before the storm.

"I think she's been scared for so many days now, and I feel like she's given up," said Melissa. "She's like, 'I'm gonna die,' and it's frustrating."

Konstantin and Melissa were trying to raise money through a GoFundMe to head to Europe, but weren't able to raise enough money.

"I’m always going to have that internal battle of yearning to want to go to try to help them, but then also, the reasonable part of it is would I even be able to make a difference, or make it to where they’re at?" said Konstintin.

The Lukashevichs planned to fly over and help as many refugees as they can. Konstantin is no stranger to helping others, as he spent four years in the United States Marine Corps.

"The whole 9/11 thing happened, and I felt very strongly about that," said Konstantin. "I wanted to make a difference and do something with my life."

The couple only raised a thousand dollars, so it just wasn't enough to get there. They're decided to reallocate the money from plane tickets to food, and they've been sending it directly to their family in Ukraine.

"We just weren’t able to raise enough money to do it," said Melissa. They sent $200 to some of their family members to help with food and heating costs.

"It's wintertime there still. They just had a snowfall so all of these other aspects people don't tend to remember," said Konstintin.

How far does $200 go in Ukraine? $200 came out to 3,800 hryvnias, and it may sound like a lot, but prices on staple items have skyrocketed and stores simply can't get products on the shelves.

Konstantin and Melissa say any money they receive is going straight to family members.

Their story is one of many like this as the Lukashevich family says there's no longer a real chance to escape, but to only sit it out and wait.

"I just want people to be aware of how bad it is over there and how scared they all are," said Melissa.

(Click here for GoFundMe)

Ukraine Relief Fund - Vladimir Savchuk Ministries

https://pastorvlad.org/ukraine/

Continuing Coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine