INDIANAPOLIS — Ukraine is 5,200 miles from Indianapolis, but to Barbara Paturel, it feels much closer.
Paturel lived in Ukraine for three years in the late 90s and worked at a missionary treating addiction with her late husband, Wayne.
She says she still feels a connection to the country.
“Those people are just so very precious, and even after all of these years being back in the states, my heart still hurts for them a lot,” she said. “We just fell in love with [the Ukrainian people]. They would invite us into their home for dinner and you would have thought we were a king and a queen,” she remembers.
Brittany Swanson also went on mission trips to Ukraine. She taught English there in 2018 and returned the next year. She forged friendships with Ukrainians still in the country.
MORE | Hoosiers with connections to Ukraine watch Russian invasion from afar
“They are just trying to cling to their faith and pray that God will protect them and keep them,” Swanson said. “They're fearful, but they're hopeful. There's just something about them, they're so strong, they're resilient.”
Paturel has been able to get in touch with her friends, but communication is limited.
“They haven’t been on social media much. I think they’re afraid to say anything,” Paturel said of her friends.
The two women are watching the Russian invasion in horror, worried about the loved ones still within the war-torn country.
MORE | Indiana University students peacefully protest Russian attacks on Ukraine
“It's just really hard to see all these different attacks. I hoped it would never happen, and I really did not expect for it to be this volume,” says Swanson. “These people are just like you and me, wanting to live a good life and be happy.”
“Why would you hurt and kill people who have done nothing to you? What is the purpose of going into a country and destroying people who, to me, seem innocent?” said Paturel.
Although Paturel feels helpless with an ocean between herself and the troubles in Europe, she believes there is some help we can all send that is never hindered by distance.
“Pray for the Ukrainian people, pray for the government, pray for the violence to stop," she said.
-
Purdue men’s basketball lands highest-rated recruit in program history
Purdue men’s basketball landed its highest-rated recruit in program history in the 7-foot and 210-pound center Isaiah Hill, according to Sports Illustrated.
3 child passengers die after driver falls asleep, crashes on I-65
Three juveniles, all not wearing seatbelts, died early Friday morning after the driver of their vehicle fell asleep on Interstate 65 and crashed into a parked semi.
Carmel woman warns others about scam calls claiming to help with pain
A Carmel woman says she’s getting flooded with scam calls offering to help her with her pain. Linda Barron, 81, contacted WRTV Investigates for help because she’s fed up with the calls.
Charges filed against man accused of shooting IMPD officer in Broad Ripple
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office filed charges Friday against Victor Garcia-Lopez who is accused of shooting an IMPD officer and attacking a woman and her landlord on May 8.
