INDIANAPOLIS — Though she was born in Ukraine, Anya Aslanova has built a successful life here in the Hoosier state.
Aslanova was raised in Kyiv and moved to the U.S. in 1996 and serves as the president of Arts for Learning, a local arts organization. She's been in the position for six months.
By all measures, she's doing well for herself.
But right now, her mind is on her family back home in Ukraine.
“I’m safe, I have a roof over my head I have food on the table. I know I have future tomorrow, I know I have tomorrow. They don’t,” Aslanova said.
Aslanova's family is still in Ukraine amid an ongoing conflict prompted by Russia's invasion of the country last week.
Anya said she talks to her family every moment she can as their situation changes by the minute.
“Terror. That's what I’ve been hearing. It needs to stop. It all needs to stop,” Aslanova said.
And with each passing day, Anya’s family continues to show their strength in uncertain times.
“There is a sense of survivor's guilt, I won't deny it — the fact that I am here and my friends and my family who could very well be here and they are not and they are in danger instead,” Aslanova said.
Aslanova said she ultimately just wants peace for her country.
“The overarching message is peace in Ukraine, its freedom in Ukraine, these people lived peacefully, they were free they were happy, they were building their county and they were hopeful,” Aslanova said.
-
Indiana officials give firework safety tips ahead of Fourth of July
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and State Fire Marshall Steve Jones encourage Hoosiers to use fireworks and celebrate the Fourth of July safely.
Caitlin Clark not practicing Tuesday, to do individual workout
Fever head coach Stephanie White said Fever star guard Caitlin Clark will not practice on Tuesday, adding that Clark will be doing an individual workout.Gov. Braun looks to fill IURC commissioner seat after chairman appointment
Governor Braun is on the hunt for the next commissioner to join the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the agency that ultimately decides when your utility rates go up.
ISP: 73 arrests made in multi-agency drug patrol in north central Indiana
Six local law enforcement agencies recently teamed up for a six-day patrol focused on cracking down on illegal drugs and traffic enforcement in north central Indiana.