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.
-
'We need consistency.' Fever coach Stephanie White comments on officiating
Fever head coach Stephanie White called out the officiating after the Fever's loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
New legal prep charter school to open in Indianapolis this August
The free, public college-prep school will serve grades 6–12 and combine rigorous academics with real-world legal experiences, school leaders said.
Caitlin Clark ruled out for Saturday's game against the Sparks
Fever head coach Stephanie White said on Friday that Clark will not play in the Fever's game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.
Body of Indianapolis man found in retention pond after canoe overturns
Indiana conservation officers are searching for a 54-year-old man who went missing after his canoe capsized in a northwest side retention pond on Thursday.