Sixteen-year-old Anna Liutyk will never forget Feb. 24, when Russia attacked Ukrainian cities and forced many to flee their homes, creating long lines near the Polish border in Lviv, where she lives. Despite the bombardment, Ukrainians are helping each other. They deliver medicine and food to those in bomb shelters. Citizens and chefs alike prepare meals for the military, refugees, and civilians. People adopt abandoned animals and offer shelter and rides. Liutyk and her friend Yaryna started walking along the line near the Polish border, offering hot tea and coffee. The next day, from a table outside Liutyk’s house, they offered hot dishes like Ukrainian borshch, salo with bread and pickles, as well as sweets, and hot drinks. She says she has never hugged so many people or heard so many kind words from strangers. In those kind words, comforting hugs, and mutual support, Liutyk sees the unity of the Ukrainian people. “We try to help each other however we can because it is who we are,” she adds. “It is in our veins.”

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