Still in Kyiv, family of Drexel’s Alina Bushma trying to help defense of Ukraine however they can

Alina Bushma wears her homeland of Ukraine close to her heart in permanent form. A chestnut, representing the capital, Kyiv, and wheat, representing the entire country, are inked on the Drexel senior squash player’s left shoulder and hand.

This reminder of her birthplace stays with as her family tries to persevere in Kyiv, which is under attack by Russia, like most of the rest of the country.

Weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Bushma’s parents and grandparents are still in Kyiv with no plans to leave because of restrictions and health-related problems. Bushma’s family is trying to help in any way they can.

» READ MORE: Drexel swimmer and Ukraine native: ‘Afraid to think of what could come next’ with Russia

For her mother, old daily tasks of making blankets have turned into making camouflage nets for Ukrainian tanks.

“She sent me pictures like ‘casual hobbies nowadays,’” Bushma said. “We have a bunch of old stuff in our house that they’re giving out to help as well.”

Bushma, who has been in the United States since 2019, is fearful of the conditions that surround her family. She last visited Ukraine for the holidays in December and remembered the everyday routines of people going to work and hanging out with friends. She remembered the New Year’s Eve party she attended and the Ukrainian tradition of making a wish before the clock struck midnight.

Bushma wishes that sense of normalcy would return to Ukraine.

“It’s the land of the home they are fighting for,” Bushma said. “While I’m trying to keep it positive and my parents are trying to keep it positive, a lot of horrible things are happening. Kids are getting killed and people are losing friends and family.”

Bushma remembers getting a call from her mother on International Women’s Day on March 8, and with excitement in her voice she told Alina she was baking a cherry pie to celebrate.

» READ MORE: The number of Ukraine refugees passes the worst-case U.N. estimate

“She loves baking,” Bushma said. “But my parents have been so positive, especially in the beginning. When I first heard, I was texting my mom worried to make sure everything was OK and my mom was like, ‘Don’t worry about us, go play squash.’

“I feel like if you’re in Kyiv, you have to try to be positive right now. Obviously, there’s sad things happening, but we need to keep fighting for the land so we need to stay positive. I kind of take that energy from my parents.”

Bushma learned of the Russian invasion right before Drexel headed to Boston for the College Squash Association national championships, which began Feb. 25.

» READ MORE: ‘We hurt.’ Two Ukrainian refugees say they are grateful to be safe in Philly church rectory.

The team surpassed expectations, upsetting No. 3 Princeton and No. 2 Trinity before losing, 8-1, in the title match to Harvard. However, Bushma continued to compete in the CSA individuals, where her team showed support for her and Ukraine.

After her first match win on March 4, Bushma walked off the court to find her coaches and teammates wearing the Ukrainian flag stitched onto their left sleeves.

“Honestly, it was a surprise for me,” Bushma said. “I didn’t know that they were going to do that, and feeling that support that the team has given me over this time has been great. They were with me when it all happened as we were traveling to our collegiate nationals and seeing the support was amazing. Again they supported me through all of this.”

Bushma was supposed to go back to Ukraine this year to play in the second division as part of the Ukrainian team, but that seems unlikely now.

But like the ink on her skin, the memories of what life was like in Kyiv before the invasion cannot be wiped away, and Bushma waits for the day it can return.

“Ukrainians need to know whether they’ll be able to go to their job every day or to hang out with friends and family and not be scared. And right now you can’t do that,” Bushma said. “That’s something we’re fighting for. All Americans need to support in any way they can.”