KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pictures of the Tryukhan family taken recently are minus one. While Julie and her children, 5-year-old Marc and 2-year-old-Polly, find safety in Knoxville -- husband and father, Dima, is 5,000 miles away fighting for freedom in their native Ukraine.
The family talks on the phone every other day now that Dima is positioned away from the front lines.
"I am alive. I can walk and I can talk. I’m doing great. considering," said Dima. "It’s a real blessing that my family has the opportunity to be where they are now."
Julie says Facetime is their lifeline.
"When he was fighting on the frontlines, he would be out of touch for two weeks at a time. I was l waking up every day wondering if he was even alive, if the kids were even going to see him," said Julie.
She tries to make light; her children have a digital dad.
The last time Polly saw her father was more than a year ago. When Russia unleashed its assault on Ukraine in early 2022, the family sought shelter in the basement of their Kyiv apartment. Knowing the country was in for a long, hard fight, the decision was made: Julie and the children would flee to a familiar place. As a high school exchange student in 2007, Julie lived with a family in Knoxville and attended Webb School.
Back in East Tennessee as a refugee, Julie says she is grateful for the community's support. She’s doing her best to make memories, as Dema misses the milestones.
She has a new job.
"With this job, I feel I can finally give something back to become a taxpayer. I feel like I will be giving something back to the community," said Julie.
Marc started kindergarten this year.
"Some days he will be really sad and sit down and say, 'I miss Dad. When is he coming here?'"
It’s just one of many questions facing the family. How long will Julie and the children be allowed to stay in the States, and when, or if, the war with Russia will end?
"If the same regime is in place, I don’t think we should go back. It’s not about what. It's about my children's safety and their future. And there is no guarantee that it won’t happen again in 10, 20, 30 years," said Julie.
For now, East Tennessee will remain their home, and for that, Dema is grateful.
"With people like you guys in the Knoxville community, this world has a chance with this kindness and willingness to help."