CARNEGIE — Pray and wait, wait and pray — that’s what members of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church say they will do until the Russian-Ukraine crisis is no more.
“[Friends], an aunt and uncle have already dug their graves,” said George Honchar, a Ukraine native. “They’re afraid that when the Russians come in there won’t be enough young people to dig graves,” he said.
Honchar said the fear of invasion is unbearable.
From Western Ukraine to Eastern Ukraine, Honchar said he has family scattered across the country.
“My stepson lives in Ternopil,” shared Honchar.
At age 31, Honchar said his son has always lived in a free Ukraine.
“Freedom is a gift from God, and we’re hoping that God will protect Ukraine and preserve this gift,” said Honchar.
But the realization that Russia could now invade weighs heavy on the family.
“If they see this war, it’s going to be generations before we can recover,” said Honchar.
Other parishioners said that if history is any indication of what Russia will do, they fear the worst.
“Ukraine agreed to give up their weapons in return for a guarantee that the United States and Russia and Great Britain protect Ukraine,” said Bohdan Czmole, whose parents were both born in Ukraine.
Czmole is talking about the Budapest memorandum signed in the mid-’90s in which Ukraine agreed to send all nuclear weapons to Russia to dismantle.
But the protection that came with the agreement is now in jeopardy.
“That was [supposed to be] guaranteed to Ukraine,” said Czmole.
Now, for families separated by miles and time zones, all they can do is pray and wait.
“This could mean tens of thousands of deaths,” said Honchar.
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