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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been a little bit lonely but I91裸聊视频檓 in a safe place,91裸聊视频� Danyliuk told The Canadian Press through an interpreter.

91裸聊视频淚 really want to see them, but it91裸聊视频檚 hard, it91裸聊视频檚 really hard. I feel like I91裸聊视频檓 alone. I know they are safe, but right now they are on the other side of the world,91裸聊视频� she added.

Danyliuk91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 cannot leave my household and all of this here in Ukraine because my daughter91裸聊视频檚 husband is left here in Ukraine and he91裸聊视频檚 doing a job.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 pleased that they are keeping safe and they are in a peaceful and comfortable place,91裸聊视频� Danyliuk said of her family in Canada.

Danyliuk91裸聊视频檚 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 Alzheimer91裸聊视频檚 at the University of Calgary91裸聊视频檚 Foothills campus.

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

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e been adapting remarkably well. However, I91裸聊视频檝e been talking to my brothers 91裸聊视频� and they still miss home a lot,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淓ven my little brother said what if something happens and we91裸聊视频檙e not there, it would just pain all of us to not be able to do anything.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t was one of the times that the missile hit my hometown 91裸聊视频� and she was at the market and she was telling me - I saw this huge black thing flying across the sky,91裸聊视频� Stepanchuk said.

91裸聊视频淎ll of a sudden, people in the market are running around in panic and she was just like, 91裸聊视频榃ell I91裸聊视频檓 going to go to the store and buy a couple of things because there91裸聊视频檚 not going to be lines anymore,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� 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 it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a drawn-out affair and Ukrainians have gone through similar crises in the past as they fought for independence.

91裸聊视频淚t pains me to see that they will have to rebuild the country from the ruins once it91裸聊视频檚 over.91裸聊视频�

Stepanchuk left home when she was 17 to attend university. Now living in Calgary, she doesn91裸聊视频檛 rule out a return home if she91裸聊视频檚 needed.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not saying Calgary is my home forever or Canada is my home forever. Life is interesting,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淵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.91裸聊视频�

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