Valley student brings hope through letters to Ukrainian soldiers fighting in war
Today marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, tens of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have died on the battlefield, as Ukrainian civilians continue to be terrorized by Russian missiles. New at 6, a unique effort to stay connected with those living in that war zone. ABC 15's Luz Deleka-Kabayero shows us how one student at Brofie College Prep has brought hope to soldiers in that war-torn region. Inside the walls of Brofie College Prep is Adam Jeldon. My mom is from Ukraine, I'm from here. He's proud to be Ukrainian and has written letters to soldiers since the war started.
It's to give the soldiers a new hope about what they're fighting for. This letter he's writing is extra special. And who are you writing these letters to? My uncle, Victor, he's fighting right now. In the war? Yeah, he just suddenly enlisted like a lot of people did and he did it to protect this country. I think it takes a really special person to have that amount of courage. And Adam says it's been heartbreaking not knowing if he'll ever see his uncle, Victor Straschenko, again. I just really don't want anything bad to happen to him and it's like, it makes me nervous and my whole family.
Adding sometimes it's hard to find the right words to say. Because for him, there aren't any to describe how devastated he feels for the people of Ukraine, but he works to find the words because he knows this is one of the only ways he can connect with his uncle. I want him to feel loved and give him some more confidence. And while he says this past year has felt like an eternity because of the war in Ukraine. I hope it ends and obviously I hope Ukraine wins. What's your hope for your uncle in this war? That he comes out alive. Thank you for what you've done for the country, Adam.
A letter ready to be sent and sealed with love. I am looking forward to hopefully seeing you again this summer. I would say I idolized him. ABC 15, Arizona.
abc15, arizona, russia, ukraine, war