BROCKTON, Mass. — While about 2.5 million have left Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, millions more have stayed, people like Brockton native Jason Tibbetts who are constantly on edge.
“Russian warships out at the Black Sea that pace back and forth throughout the day and we’ve had some surface-to-air missiles,” said Tibbetts. “It was shot at the ships, but thus far Odesa hasn’t faced an invasion. Nobody is under any illusions that we will not be invaded. Of course, we all expect it to happen, but I was a medic in the United States military and I am certainly not the best-qualified person to help people here. But if I have the ability to help people here, then I will.”
Nightly curfews and little food make things feel dark in Ukraine and in cities like Odesa, where there’s no skyline, it’s more than a feeling.
“You can see one or two lights because, at night time, I live right near the sea at night time, everybody turns their lights off because when the attack comes it’s going to come at four o’clock in the morning,” said Tibbetts. “And all of these people turn their lights off at night because they’re afraid of being hit.”
Tibbetts moved to Odesa 10 years ago to teach and he’s made it his home, teaching not only Ukrainians but Russians as well.
“What can they do? They can’t say it’s a war,” said Tibbetts. “If they say it’s a war they go to jail for 15 years. If Russian people speak up, you know, they’re arrested. I mean they can’t even call it a war in their country. I mean you can see the images of children are arrested for holding up a sign that says no war.”
When asked what we can do in the U.S. to help, he says every social media like and comment, every news story view, every call to a politician to ask for the U.S to get more involved, Ukrainians see it. He says it makes their strong spirit even stronger knowing there is international support.
You can see our extended interview with Jason Tibbetts below:
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