Until just three days ago, Pete had never been to Santa Barbara. He was over 6000 miles away, fighting for his country. He’s Ukrainian.
Pete isn’t his real name, we are protecting his identity for his safety and the safety of his family. He’s now traveled to the United States, after suffering a significant injury.
"When I was in the hospital, I didn't think about flying here. I thought about going back to the war," he told KCLU through a translator.
He said the doctor told him it wasn't possible to go back to war, but he wanted to keep going.
"I still can do that. People without legs are fighting, people without arms are fighting. But the doctor told me that, 'You don't want to do this anymore'".
Fighting wasn’t what Pete had in mind for the final year of his 20’s. Before the war, he had a good job, working in government, and ran his own business – and said his biggest worries were trivial.
"The biggest problem was to choose what to have to eat for dinner and what movie to watch," he said.
"Life in Ukraine was really good. Life in Ukraine gave me a good opportunity to have a good education, to have a good job and money," he told KCLU.
His fellow Ukrainians back home are still defending their country as they head into their first Orthodox Christmas since the Russian invasion began, Pete says he has mixed emotions about leaving.
"I'm here but my mind and soul is still there." he said.
He says that defending his country was "instinct," and he didn't think about whether to do it or not. He added that a sense of humor helps to keep spirits up, even when in a water-filled trench under bombing bombardment from the Russians.
Pete says being here in America doesn’t yet feel real.
"I saw a lot of video of Santa Barbara on video and YouTube and now I feel like I'm inside that video!"
Pete says it means a lot to him and fellow Ukrainians on the front line, to have the support of people overseas.
"Thank you for the help. Every help, even $1 is very important. Information and mental support is important."
Thanks to Santa Barbara organization World Dance for Humanity for facilitating this interview.
