As the world watches what unfolds in Eastern Europe, many in Central Florida are just praying their loved ones back home are safe.

That’s exactly what one Ukrainian student in Daytona Beach is doing.

“My parents don’t share photos," said Viktor Dziuba. "They try not to."

Dziuba has been checking his phone nonstop since Russia invaded his home country this week.

“Like every three minutes,” he said.

Four years ago, he moved to the United States from Ukraine to study at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he is currently a junior.

He says that right now, what he feared most is taking place in Ukraine.

“Because everything can change in just a minute,” he said.

Dziuba is here in the states by himself while the rest of his family is overseas trying to remain safe from the ongoing attacks in Ukraine.

His mother is in the western portion of the country, but his father is stuck in Russia, where he was doing business when the invasion started.

“My father said, too, that there’s a lot of people in Moscow that don’t want this war,” Dziuba said.

All he can do now is watch and hope for the best.

Dziuba applied for political asylum in the U.S three years ago out of fear that something like this could happen back home.

Recently, he’s been in contact with members of Congress about getting that process sped up.

“I have a reasonable threat to my life and to the life of my parents,” he said.

His sister and baby niece have been able to make it out of Ukraine and find refuge in a nearby country, but her husband stayed behind to fight for their homeland.

Distance has always been a challenge but these days, with the uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring, Dziuba said things have been even more difficult.

Embry-Riddle is hosting a panel discussion for students and staff on Monday about the conflict and recent events that have been taking place.