Escaping Ukraine

Two Sac State grads—one visiting Ukraine and one at home in Sacramento— share their experiences following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Olya LeBaron learned firsthand of the invasion from friends and family in her homeland of Ukraine and watched in disbelief as events unfolded from her home in Sacramento. Meanwhile, Blake Westman woke to the sounds of explosions, gunfire, and air raids after a night out with friends during a recent visit to Ukraine. While Olya’s journey to Ukraine to aid refugees and Blake’s escape from Kyiv to Poland are very different circumstances, their stories underscore the incredible humanitarian efforts amid devastating circumstances.