ukraine

Locals from Ukraine and Russia Reflect on War

By Matt Hoisch

Victoria Petrova was born in Ukraine and moved to Russia when she was two. She says she couldn’t believe a war would happen until the last minute when Russia invaded Ukraine. Picture by Matt Hoisch.

For a lot of people in the Telluride region, the Russian invasion of Ukraine might feel like a distant news story. But, for many, it’s personal. KOTO spoke to several locals from Ukraine and Russia about the invasion and what it’s like being far from home as war erupts.

As recently as late February, Lena Demura was planning to visit her family in Ukraine over off-season. But then things shifted. Picture courtesy of Lena Demura.