Former Ukrainian exchange student from Shasta High School seeking asylum in California

REDDING, Calif. – A previous Ukrainian trade student plans to go back to California mainly because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

After dealing with artillery exploding in the vicinity of her hometown of Kyiv, Irina Kolbun made the decision to move again to California, significantly from the war in her homeland of Ukraine.

“I listen to an air raid siren, and I’m like, all right, very little is heading to happen. We have a great defense method some times it can be terrifying, and I am fearful about my everyday living,” Kolbun mentioned.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Which is when Kolbun and her spouse and children ran for the border.

“My 1st priority was to consider my mother, brother, and dog someplace secure,” she mentioned. “So we drove to the Polish border and waited about a few and half days at the Polish border.”

Kolbun says she left her job, faculty and mates driving.

“You sense the strain, and you experience a component of the war, and you walk every day through the streets loaded with individuals issues. We have a lot of air tips to the bomb shelters,” Kolbun stated.

Motion Information Now questioned Kolbun what life was like in advance of the war.

“I just identified my very first job as a facts analyst, and it felt like it would be greater every single working day,” she claimed. “I had each individual element needed for a fantastic lifestyle.”

Carrie Whiting was Kolbun’s host mom when she was an exchange college student at Shasta Significant, and they managed their friendship even after Kolbun returned to Ukraine.

“When she reached out to me inquiring if she could seek asylum in this nation, it was a no-brainer. she is like my baby I would give absent nearly anything I had for her. I’m honored to provide her in this article and give her a improved existence,” Whiting claimed.