Galyna Danyliuk knew she would miss her daughter and grandsons when they fled to Canada shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, but she felt it was best she stay behind to protect their family home.

The 68-year-old hairdresser lives in Rivne, with a population of 240,000, about 330 kilometres west of the capital of Kyiv.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been a little bit lonely but I香蕉视频直播檓 in a safe place,香蕉视频直播� Danyliuk told The Canadian Press through an interpreter.

香蕉视频直播淚 really want to see them, but it香蕉视频直播檚 hard, it香蕉视频直播檚 really hard. I feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 alone. I know they are safe, but right now they are on the other side of the world,香蕉视频直播� she added.

Danyliuk香蕉视频直播檚 daughter Kateryna Stepanchuk and her two sons, ages 12 and 16, left Ukraine last year, just months after the Russian invasion.

She and her son-in-law Anatolly Stepanchuk remain behind.

香蕉视频直播淚 cannot leave my household and all of this here in Ukraine because my daughter香蕉视频直播檚 husband is left here in Ukraine and he香蕉视频直播檚 doing a job.香蕉视频直播�

Men between the ages of 18 and 60 were banned from leaving Ukraine after Russia invaded the country. The Ukrainian government is not forcing men to fight, but they must register and remain in the country.

There is a chance of enforced conscription if the violence continues.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 pleased that they are keeping safe and they are in a peaceful and comfortable place,香蕉视频直播� Danyliuk said of her family in Canada.

Danyliuk香蕉视频直播檚 family is now living in Calgary with her granddaughter.

Anastasiia Stepanchuk has been in Calgary since 2018, where she obtained her doctorate in neuroscience, and now conducts research on dementia and Alzheimer香蕉视频直播檚 at the University of Calgary香蕉视频直播檚 Foothills campus.

She said her family is getting used to life in Canada, but it can be difficult.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e been adapting remarkably well. However, I香蕉视频直播檝e been talking to my brothers 香蕉视频直播� and they still miss home a lot,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淓ven my little brother said what if something happens and we香蕉视频直播檙e not there, it would just pain all of us to not be able to do anything.香蕉视频直播�

Due to its location, Rivne is considered relatively safe, but there have been some rocket attacks. She said her grandmother witnessed one first-hand.

香蕉视频直播淚t was one of the times that the missile hit my hometown 香蕉视频直播� and she was at the market and she was telling me - I saw this huge black thing flying across the sky,香蕉视频直播� Stepanchuk said.

香蕉视频直播淎ll of a sudden, people in the market are running around in panic and she was just like, 香蕉视频直播榃ell I香蕉视频直播檓 going to go to the store and buy a couple of things because there香蕉视频直播檚 not going to be lines anymore,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� she added with a laugh.

Stepanchuk applauds her grandmother for her resilience and sense of humour, but it was still stressful to hear.

The first few days of the invasion was a particularly rough time as Stepanchuk watched events unfolding. Now she realizes it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a drawn-out affair and Ukrainians have gone through similar crises in the past as they fought for independence.

香蕉视频直播淚t pains me to see that they will have to rebuild the country from the ruins once it香蕉视频直播檚 over.香蕉视频直播�

Stepanchuk left home when she was 17 to attend university. Now living in Calgary, she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 rule out a return home if she香蕉视频直播檚 needed.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not saying Calgary is my home forever or Canada is my home forever. Life is interesting,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou never know where you will end up and if I would be most needed back home, I would be happy to come back and do the best I can.香蕉视频直播�

READ ALSO: