The War in Ukraine, Year 2: As Seen Through the Perspective of CDU Professor of Medicine Dr. Victor Chaban
Hello, Victor. I wanted to talk to you because a year ago on the day that Putin invaded Ukraine, you and I had a conversation. Though it was about the curriculum for the new 4-year medical school, you also voiced your apprehension about the invasion of Ukraine, your homeland. We had a lively conversation. First, I want to get your insight about your communication with your family and colleagues in the Ukraine, and what has essentially been happening over this dramatic year as you see it.
So it’ s happened that my own brother served in what they call territory defense. It’ s not a military unit, and he’ s too old to be drafted. I’ m not sure, I think he’ s 61. But he wanted to serve his country. And people are brave, nobody expected so much courage and so much strength of both our people and the military.
What’ s your brother’ s name?
Andrew. Maybe it was a beacon that 2,000 people were in line to get drafted, which is unusual. But right now, with all that is happening, everything is upside down in ways that nobody expected. Ukraine will survive a huge invader like Russia in my opinion. But I am grateful to our American president and to our country for the huge support. It’ s so obvious that without support of the US and NATO allies, the resistance wouldn’ t happen. Most of the Ukrainian army equipment, including warplanes and tanks, were outdated. They started with supplying a Javelin, which is like a rocket propeller for individual soldiers. But now with the BIG Launcher, it’ s a game changer and people believe in the victory which wasn’ t even the case the last time we talked. It was a very sad story. The invasion touched my family. We managed to bring my in-laws from the city of Kherson. Everybody knows the Russians occupied this city for nine months.
And the week the city was liberated by Ukrainians, my wife called her mom, and her dad said no matter what happened, life is more important. We brought them to United States. Beautiful family reunion because before, you remember your parents being in the bombardment every time, so how they can leave? It’ s so hard to exist with this notion, but still a lot of friends and relatives are still there. It’ s a ray of hope.
I was impressed how it’ s celebrated even in United States, in Los Angeles. UCLA sent me a whole list of events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of invasion. I have never lived in independent Ukraine. It was still part of the Soviet Union back in‘ 91-92.
I left to go to Poland and England with Soviet Union papers. But I frequently visited my relatives and every time I’ m proud of my heritage. You know, it’ s unbelievable what’ s happening and me living in Redondo Beach, sometimes going through the neighborhood. I’ ve seen Ukrainian flags, and it’ s touching. Even on a construction site, they have a big US flag and underneath a Ukrainian flag. People support us, and I believe there’ s only the scary part that this help somehow will be interrupted for some reason.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 25