Anya Hapotchenko is an exchange student whose parents are located in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border.
The college freshman at 19 years old is currently studying in Dallas. She said that she is in constant contact with her parents and trying to not panic. She called her parents to alert them when she heard Russian President Vladimir Putin call it a “military operations” in Ukraine.
She told CBS News’ national correspondent Jericka Duncan that it was 5 a.m. Moscow time and Ukrainian time.
“So basically, they woke up and I called them. I said that I knew what was happening because I had seen this information. They were confused and said, “Well, we don’t know.” She said that we were only sleeping.
Hapotchenko stated that her parents’ house is approximately 60 miles away from the Russian border in Starobilsk. She said that they told her they hadn’t heard gunfire and planned to leave on Thursday.
Hapotchenko stated that “My parents are making some improvements in packing stuff and other things to leave my home quite soon.”
She stated that the official website of Ukraine’s parliament was taken down. This is likely to ensure that “people don’t get any updates or other information.”
Hapotchenko stated that Russia’s threat was part of her daily life. However, this is the first time she and her family have ever left.
Her boyfriend, brother, and niece are all in Ukraine. She said that all were looking for safety on Thursday.
