A social media relationship between a history teacher at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School and a teen from Ukraine led to his visit to the United States and a talk on the atrocities of war facing the Ukrainian people before Diman students on Monday.
18-year-old Oleksandr (Olek) Lysyi left Ukraine to attend school in Poland just three days before Russia began its bombing of Ukraine. He learned of the news on social media and immediately became concerned about his family back home.
Much of Olek’s family has been able to flee Ukraine to other European countries. His uncle was not able to leave due to requirements that all men aged 18 to 60 must stay within the country. If Olek were to return to Ukraine he would not be able to leave until the conflict is over. He says it’s likely he will never see his native country again.
Olek was able to visit the United States after he began an Instagram relationship with Diman history teacher Ashley Duffaney. Last spring she was teaching about the war in Ukraine when she connected with Olek. She was responsible for helping him to secure a visa to the United States and is housing him until later this month. She says hearing Olek’s story will be a reminder to her and her classes how precious it is to have the freedoms we possess in America.
Nearly six months since the beginning of the war Olek still cannot make sense of why Russia is destroying his country.
When Olek leaves Fall River he will visit his family who fled to Switzerland before returning to school. He says he enjoyed his visit to the United States and hopes to be welcomed back as a college student.
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