PBS News Hour

GEOFF BENNETT

More than 6 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russias invasion in February. While most of those refugees made their way to neighboring European countries, some are now living in the U.S. PBS Wisconsins Marisa Wojcik spoke with one woman about her difficult decision to leave.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

Varia Dragina (ph) is like any other 6-year-old girl. Every morning she gets ready for school with the help of her parents. He mom is there to pack her backpack, but her dad has to check in from thousands of miles away. Varia (ph) has only had this odd routine for nearly three months, every since she and her mother escaped Ukraine. They came to Madison, Wisconsin to stay with friends. Her mother, Anna Mykhailov video-calls her husband Sasha (ph), Varias (ph) father, back in Ukraine every morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

So beautiful dress.

MARISA WOJCIK

And same as if he were here with them, accompanies Varia (ph) and Anya (ph) --

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

-- on the half mile walk to school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

I had perfect life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE

(Spoken in foreign language).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

I had everything. I have family. I have husband. I have a perfect, best daughter. Have a good day kiddo. I couldnt accept this new reality. The Russian army came, it was forced decision. And so we cant decide by ourself what we will do, where we will live, how we will live, they decided for us. My husband, he asks everyday, you should leave. You should leave, please. You should leave. I saw a picture of a dead girl on internet and she was the same age like my Varia (ph). And I thought it couldnt be my kid too.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

They made it to the U.S. on March 3.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

(Spoken in foreign language).

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

But more than anything, Anya (ph) wants to return home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

Im here only because of Varia (ph). I think if I didnt have Varia (ph) I would be in Ukraine with my husband, with all my family.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

But, shes also seeing things through her young daughters eyes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

She said, yes, I miss home but I want to live too, to have real life.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

Anyas (ph) Russian relatives refuse to believe the reality of the war.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

I have relatives in Russia, in Rostov (ph). And they didnt believe. They didnt believe me. I sent pictures from my apartment and it will touch them personally. I think they will wake up.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

Without knowing the future, Anya (ph) endures.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE

We need to be strong. We will win. Everything will be OK. We rebuild everything. Yes.

MARISA WOJCIK (voice-over)

For "PBS News Weekend," Im Marisa Wojcik in Madison, Wisconsin.