Slavic restaurant manager says prayers for her Ukrainian family to stay safe

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ.)

Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to affect many people around the world including here in Mid-Missouri.

Today ABC 17 spoke with the manager of a Slavic restaurant in Sedalia to get their opinion on the invasion.

Karina Kukharets manager at Pure Life Cuisine, says she has several family members from Ukraine so this hits home for her. She also says her mother has been dealing with a lot lately because she has many siblings that live in Ukraine.

"Death is not fun for anyone or not good for anyone but when it's your people like you get a lot more worried and you realize how much more serious it actually is," Kukharets said.  

And the Ukrainian fight continues to hold back a Russian advance on the Capital of Kyiv. Ukraine's president said on Thursday night 137 people had been killed and 316 are wounded.

This death toll includes both Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

"It's just scary to like know that they might not make it but we're just praying and hoping that it kinda ends and it doesn't go for long. And that everyone makes it," said Kukharets.

For now, the invasion continues to affect Kukharets and her family and she feels the only thing she can do right now to help is to pray.  

"Prayer I think is our biggest weapon right now, just like being in the United States, I think prayer is like our only weapon right now", said Kukharets.

And during a time like this Kukharets says she's happy that she has her restaurant, family, and friends to distract her from all the chaos that's going on.

"It helps me cause if I keep a regular schedule on like my mind like will keep on that and I'm not as worried about the war and whats going on there," said Kukharets.