ADA, Ohio — Christian Groman, a junior mechanical engineering major at Ohio Northern University, has a lot on his mind these days. 

It's especially because his whole family on his mom's side lives in Ukraine. 

What You Need To Know

  • Christian Groman considers Ukraine his second home

  • Groman's entire family on his mom side lives in Ukraine 

  • He just returned from a month-long trip to the country in January 2022​

 “It’s been tough to focus on school. I need to make sure I’m fulfilling my responsibilities,”  Groman said. “My heart is there [in Ukraine]. My family is there. It is a special place to me and special people that are always so nice to me.” 

Groman keeps in close contact with his Ukrainian family. He talks to his grandparents at least once a day. 

“I talk with my grandparents on the phone in Ukrainian,” he explained. “They don’t speak any English other than a few phrases they have picked up here and there. “

The latest information: 

Most recently, he spent four weeks in visiting his family in Ukraine. He was there from December 2021 to the middle of January. 

“There were people worried about me. People were people asking when I was coming back because they knew the troops were building up on the boarder but I just decided I had four weeks and I didn’t really care what was happening," he said. "I wanted to see my grandparents and cousins and spend time with them while I could.” 

Groman heard about Russia’s first attack on Ukraine while he was up late doing homework. 

“There has been instances where I feel like I’m not doing enough, to help them, and I have been going home and asking my mom what different things I can do here,” he said. “I’ve been talking to my grandpa, and he says to get my friends together, and talk to anyone who will listen to you about what is going on in Ukraine.” 

Groman said his family members in Ukraine have no intentions of leaving the country anytime soon. 

“If there is anything people will take away from what is going on is that Ukrainians will go to any length to protect what and who they hold dear,” he said. “That includes their country.” 

Groman encourages everyone to continue to show support for Ukraine through positive messages and prayer. 

“If Ukraine stops fighting, there would be no Ukraine," he said. "If Russia stops fighting, there would be no war.”​

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