Galyna Danyliuk knew she would miss her daughter and grandsons when they fled to Canada shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, but she felt it was best she stay behind to protect their family home.

The 68-year-old hairdresser lives in Rivne, with a population of 240,000, about 330 kilometres west of the capital of Kyiv.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a little bit lonely but IB次元官网网址檓 in a safe place,B次元官网网址� Danyliuk told The Canadian Press through an interpreter.

B次元官网网址淚 really want to see them, but itB次元官网网址檚 hard, itB次元官网网址檚 really hard. I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 alone. I know they are safe, but right now they are on the other side of the world,B次元官网网址� she added.

DanyliukB次元官网网址檚 daughter Kateryna Stepanchuk and her two sons, ages 12 and 16, left Ukraine last year, just months after the Russian invasion.

She and her son-in-law Anatolly Stepanchuk remain behind.

B次元官网网址淚 cannot leave my household and all of this here in Ukraine because my daughterB次元官网网址檚 husband is left here in Ukraine and heB次元官网网址檚 doing a job.B次元官网网址�

Men between the ages of 18 and 60 were banned from leaving Ukraine after Russia invaded the country. The Ukrainian government is not forcing men to fight, but they must register and remain in the country.

There is a chance of enforced conscription if the violence continues.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pleased that they are keeping safe and they are in a peaceful and comfortable place,B次元官网网址� Danyliuk said of her family in Canada.

DanyliukB次元官网网址檚 family is now living in Calgary with her granddaughter.

Anastasiia Stepanchuk has been in Calgary since 2018, where she obtained her doctorate in neuroscience, and now conducts research on dementia and AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 at the University of CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Foothills campus.

She said her family is getting used to life in Canada, but it can be difficult.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e been adapting remarkably well. However, IB次元官网网址檝e been talking to my brothers B次元官网网址� and they still miss home a lot,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淓ven my little brother said what if something happens and weB次元官网网址檙e not there, it would just pain all of us to not be able to do anything.B次元官网网址�

Due to its location, Rivne is considered relatively safe, but there have been some rocket attacks. She said her grandmother witnessed one first-hand.

B次元官网网址淚t was one of the times that the missile hit my hometown B次元官网网址� and she was at the market and she was telling me - I saw this huge black thing flying across the sky,B次元官网网址� Stepanchuk said.

B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden, people in the market are running around in panic and she was just like, B次元官网网址榃ell IB次元官网网址檓 going to go to the store and buy a couple of things because thereB次元官网网址檚 not going to be lines anymore,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she added with a laugh.

Stepanchuk applauds her grandmother for her resilience and sense of humour, but it was still stressful to hear.

The first few days of the invasion was a particularly rough time as Stepanchuk watched events unfolding. Now she realizes itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a drawn-out affair and Ukrainians have gone through similar crises in the past as they fought for independence.

B次元官网网址淚t pains me to see that they will have to rebuild the country from the ruins once itB次元官网网址檚 over.B次元官网网址�

Stepanchuk left home when she was 17 to attend university. Now living in Calgary, she doesnB次元官网网址檛 rule out a return home if sheB次元官网网址檚 needed.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not saying Calgary is my home forever or Canada is my home forever. Life is interesting,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淵ou never know where you will end up and if I would be most needed back home, I would be happy to come back and do the best I can.B次元官网网址�

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