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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a little bit lonely but I害羞草研究所檓 in a safe place,害羞草研究所� Danyliuk told The Canadian Press through an interpreter.

害羞草研究所淚 really want to see them, but it害羞草研究所檚 hard, it害羞草研究所檚 really hard. I feel like I害羞草研究所檓 alone. I know they are safe, but right now they are on the other side of the world,害羞草研究所� she added.

Danyliuk害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 cannot leave my household and all of this here in Ukraine because my daughter害羞草研究所檚 husband is left here in Ukraine and he害羞草研究所檚 doing a job.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pleased that they are keeping safe and they are in a peaceful and comfortable place,害羞草研究所� Danyliuk said of her family in Canada.

Danyliuk害羞草研究所檚 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 Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 at the University of Calgary害羞草研究所檚 Foothills campus.

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

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been adapting remarkably well. However, I害羞草研究所檝e been talking to my brothers 害羞草研究所� and they still miss home a lot,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淓ven my little brother said what if something happens and we害羞草研究所檙e not there, it would just pain all of us to not be able to do anything.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t was one of the times that the missile hit my hometown 害羞草研究所� and she was at the market and she was telling me - I saw this huge black thing flying across the sky,害羞草研究所� Stepanchuk said.

害羞草研究所淎ll of a sudden, people in the market are running around in panic and she was just like, 害羞草研究所榃ell I害羞草研究所檓 going to go to the store and buy a couple of things because there害羞草研究所檚 not going to be lines anymore,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 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 it害羞草研究所檚 going to be a drawn-out affair and Ukrainians have gone through similar crises in the past as they fought for independence.

害羞草研究所淚t pains me to see that they will have to rebuild the country from the ruins once it害羞草研究所檚 over.害羞草研究所�

Stepanchuk left home when she was 17 to attend university. Now living in Calgary, she doesn害羞草研究所檛 rule out a return home if she害羞草研究所檚 needed.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not saying Calgary is my home forever or Canada is my home forever. Life is interesting,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淵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.害羞草研究所�

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