‘We barely sleep, we barely eat’: St. Johns County family concerned about loved ones in Ukraine

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla — The Ukrainian military is defending Kyiv, the country’s capital, as Russian forces surround the city. The battle is impacting millions of people around the world, including many in the Jacksonville area.

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There are intense sirens, terrifying bombs, and gunfire echoing throughout Ukraine and Kyiv as Russian forces invade.

St. Johns County mother Mariana Shatova and her husband once Kyiv called home but are still on edge knowing their family members still live there.

“These couple of days have been so hard, we barely sleep, we barely eat,” Shatova said. “I don’t remember the last time I was doing something and not thinking about my family.”

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Her family is hiding out in bomb shelters as Russian troops attack the city. Pictures and videos sent to Action News Jax from her loved ones show tanks moving in and a partially blown-up apartment complex just a block away from where they live. Now, her family hopes they can continue to stay safe in the shelter.

Shatova says she constantly checks in with her family, hoping everything is okay.

“She’s smiling but I can see her eyes full of tears and her voice is shaking,” Shatova said. “It’s so hard to know that I’m not able to help my mom and I’m here and she’s right there under the attack of Russian government.”

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Shatova is praying for her family to make it out alive.

“My biggest concern is for my family to stay alive and for my country to stay independent,” Shatova said. “This is war, this is what’s happening right now and of course, they have bad thoughts, but we try not to talk about it because it’s too scary.”

Shatova says that because of the uncertainty of the situation, every minute is terrifying.

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