Many across San Diego County are showing their solidarity with the Ukrainian people, including many Ukrainian-Americans who now call San Diego home.
"I feel so anxious every day and depressed because I see the pictures and what happens in my country now and my relatives," said Melania Nikolenko, 17."But right now, my family is sitting in the basement and they don’t have any internet, any cellular, last time I checked in with them was 20 hours ago."
Nikolenko is a senior at Canyon Hills High school and she shares the anguish she and her family who now reside in Del Mar feel about their home country. "I'm so scared and at the same time, I'm proud. For example, my little brother right now, three days ago he texted me saying, 'I'm planning to join the Ukrainian army,'" she said."I'm like, 'Really? You're 16 years old, you shouldn’t make this choice right now,' and he said, 'No, my country needs me.'"
Four years ago, Nikolenko and her parents immigrated to San Diego from Mariupol, Ukraine, a city near the Russian border that is currently surrounded by Russian troops. Following our interview with this brave Canyon Hills High School student she sang for us this popular