For people living in Central Florida with loved ones in Ukraine, it’s getting more difficult to stay in touch as the invasion drags on.


What You Need To Know

  • Rollins College student Maria Shvy is worried about her family back in Ukraine

  •  She said she was able to stay in contact with her mother until Friday morning when their line of communication broke

  • Shvy said she is scared and angry, but knows Ukrainians will not stop fighting the Russian invaders

Ukrainian Rollins College student Maria Shvy is afraid to say her full name. She is worried that the photos and images she is sharing from her home in Ukraine will get back to Russia and put her mother in even more danger than she is already believed to be in.

Her home just outside of Kharkiv is about 30 kilometers south of the Russia border. Missile shells can be found in the streets, and videos she is sent come with the sounds of them landing.

“My mom texted to me that windows are shaking," Shvy said. "There’s explosions in the city, could you please check news what’s going on?”

For the next 16 hours family, friends, and neighbors, not just in Kharkiv but in surrounding villages, started recording what they were seeing, and began sharing with anyone they could.

“Russian officials are saying they are not attacking civilians," Shvy said. "However, people record from their windows. People are able to see, we are not in World War II right now. People have their cell phones and people have their cameras.”

Friday morning in Orlando — about 3 p.m.  in Ukraine — Shvy said she lost contact with her mother, who she said is hiding underground.

“They were eating there and after I heard the shots and the connection broke," Shvy said. "That’s it, I don’t know where my family is right now.”

And it’s for that reason Shvy doesn’t want to share photos of her mother. Fearful she could be identified and targeted. The Rollins College student admits she is scared and angry.

As the videos and photos continue to pour in, Maria said she can only hope Ukraine and her mother can remain strong.

“This is my home, and I know people are going to fight for it," she said. "There is no way Ukraine is not going to fight for it.”

Spectrum News 13 did reach out to Shvy shortly before 10 p.m. to see if she has heard from her mother and she said no. She said other relatives are telling her that many are hiding underground or in the subways to get away from the attacks.