Ukrainian family escapes war, seeking safety in Utah

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — Flashback to February, Olga Kyivskyi and her 6-year-old son, Mark, were headed to visit a friend in Bountiful.

A couple weeks later, as unrest unfolded in Ukraine, Kyivskyi was in Salt Lake City while her husband was in Poland.

They turned on their Ring camera. There, they saw bombs outside their home of Kyiv.

Her husband just missed seeing those bombs in person, having caught a flight out of Ukraine just as the unrest got worse.

All three family members are now safe in Utah.

Kyivskyi says she’s trying to safeguard her young son.

Back in February, Olga (right) and her 6-year-old son, (middle), from Kyiv, went on what they thought would be a vacation to visit a friend in Bountiful, UT.

Fast forward a couple weeks, growing unrest in their home of Kyiv.

All 3 – now safe in Utah. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/YvPQcZ03s0

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) April 5, 2022

“He’s just like, everyday, ‘Oh, I left my favorite clothes or favorite toys. When will we be able to go back there?'” Kyivskyi said.

The truth is: maybe not for a long time.

“We don’t have an answer yet. We don’t know where we’re gonna end up or what we’re gonna do. Like, right now, there is no legal, good way to stay in the U.S., unfortunately,” Kyivskyi said.

Hoping to lighten their burden back home is help from Utah, including Heidi Olsen.

The truth is… maybe not for a long time.

Olga says they hope to stay in the U.S. for at least a couple more months.

Says it’s too tough financially, and with all the rules and laws to stay long term (at least for now).

Looking at going to Europe, or Czech Republic. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/ycemnOppO3

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) April 5, 2022

“I’ve been in grocery stores and factories for the past two weeks,” Olsen said.

Buying a one-way ticket to Poland, Olsen is working with a variety of organizations, including Orphan Smiles, by packing hundreds of boxes filled with food, sweets, and other items for young adults who need help. Specifically, they are focusing on those who are disabled.

“I feel helpless. In some ways, I’m being useful, but I just feel really close to it, like, it’s very close. They’re individuals whose names I know, people who I, like, went to school with’ — it’s their brother or their mother. It’s all kind of connected,” said Olsen.

Zoomed with Heidi this am. Says volunteering has been rewarding, but tough:

“I feel helpless. In some ways, I’m being usefully but I just feel really close to it, like it’s very close. They’re individuals whose names I know.”@feminismrulezzz @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/VS4vACM79K

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) April 5, 2022

It’s the hope to stay connected that has Kyivsjyi hanging on to hope.

“Everyone in Ukriane right now, we have to hold on and we have to win because there is not another option where we can live in this whole country without winning,” Kyivskyi said.