University of Illinois students and faculty react to Ukraine conflict

URBANA, Ill (WAND) - As tensions mount in Ukraine, students and faculty who were born in Ukraine share their reactions and how their family and friends are doing.

"It's unreal, it's like dystopia. It's something that I could have never imagined," said Valeria Sobol, professor and head of the Slavic Languages and Literatures department at University of Illinois. She grew up in Kyev, Ukraine until she was 22, and has visited on and off since.

She said in Ukraine, her friends are living each day with a lot of pressure.

"Every possible level from survival to just disruption, worries about their sons and husbands having [to], you know, suddenly fight in the army potentially," Sobol said.

Her family is now mostly in the United States, but for graduate student Daria Semeova, this conflict is a very real threat to her family.

"People are still living their regular lives. There is just this constant idea that 'Will they like invade tonight? Will they bombed tonight'", Semenova said.

People in Kyiv are stockpiling non-perishables just in case. Even with the mounting pressure, she says Ukrainians are holding out hope that economic sanctions and help from allies will make the difference.