It’s been a hard day’s fight- Ukraine!

The world got smaller. I’m in the process of locating a Ukrainian family to my home for a few months, to give them a breath of air. She was huddled in an Kiev underground shelter with her sister when we first spoke. Her 16 year old son, Timur was in Sophia, Bulgaria. She was the Tennis Director of a great club and former top five in Russia, and her son, the number one golfer of the Ukraine. They already had visa’s for travel. Maryna is an international tennis coach (ITF). I’ll update their progress soon. She left her sister in Keiv and is trying to get her out. Maryna took a midnight train to Romania and then to Sophia, Bulgaria, just in time. She had something most don’t, a visa!

I'm also talking to a good pro named Oleksii via email who can't get out. He’s on the Romanian border. He hasn’t had to fight yet. I’ll share with you our conversations:

3/3/22
​Hello,
I’m a tennis professional from the United States, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast.

I googled tennis coaches and found you there in the Ukraine.

Are you safe? Did you leave the country. I’m worried for the people of the Ukraine. Perhaps you or some other coach (male or female) needs help leaving if they choose. Or a place to stay if coming to the United States.

—Kevin Pease
Kevinpeaseschooloftennis.com
[email protected]
USPTA (R)

Hello, Kevin! Nice to hear from you. Don't want to describe you what I passed these days. Now I stay alone with my friend at Ukrainian border. I was lucky to move my parents, girlfriend and friends parents abroad in EU. I can't cross the border because of the Presidents law, he said if you have a war or some weapon experience pls join army or some territory defence group. I never hold a weapon in my hands. In Kiev I had my own club at outdoor courts, dreamt to built an indoor club there, right in Kiev. I had many students in Ukraine, all over the world, some familys close to goverment. I became a Bidi Badu tennis clothes distributor in Ukraine. Never worked on a club. Now I'm lost everything. I just moved everybody I can to the border, now I'm alone and feel bad and lost everything. I want to go back home but further it goes less chances to come back, seems will have huge damages, but I will see. Waiting for opportunity to cross the border and I'll ask for the help to work maybe. Thank you for the message.

​Oleksii,
I understand your position.

Please contact me if I can help any of your friends or family that need a place to stay outside of the Ukraine.

If you need a place to stay if you leave let me know. You are always welcome.

I pray for you and your country.

Also, if you need to email. You can anytime.

3/9/22

​Are you safe Oleksii?

3/11/22

​Hello, Kevin!
I'm still in Chernivtsi, close to the border, with my friends. Waiting for the Buelorussian invasion today. Hope that it's fake. Thank you for the message. Want to cross the border but I can't...
ср, 9 мар. 2022 г., 15:38 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <[email protected]>:

3/12/22

Oleksii,
Keep yourself safe a possible. Hopefully this war ends soon. Are you going to stay near the border.

—Kevin

Sent from my iPhone

3/13/22

​Yes, i'm going to stay close to the border at least for 1 more month. Will try to work here to have money for food and leaving, but tennis is not popular here at all. I never served in Army, no sence for me to go there, im much productive in other way, in peacfull time. Lets wait, maybe they will open borders, or maybe it will be peace soon, who knows. But longer we stay here, longer our expectations for a war duration. If it wont stop this month we expect 1 year minimum of the war duration, and it couses much more troubles to leave normal life.Turkey doesnt do any sanctions to Russia. Russians has many jet and we dont. Total amount 450 russians airplanes, only around 50 are down ny our forces. Many legioners all over the world coming to ukraine, professionals, thats bery good. My cousin leaves in Chernigiv cant leave the country... Will keep you in touch what is happening.

вс, 13 мар. 2022 г. в 01:37, Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <[email protected]>:

3/13/22

Thank you for the update. I’m glad your are not in the middle of this war. Can they make you fight?

3/14/22

​All my friends that had army courses in university and went to military registration office after some sort courses going to fight. All of my friends who wanted to fight and has experience - already there. So the situation for now is like nobody catch you on a street but if you come to the office you will probably go fighting and 100% will go fighting if you was in army or had courses in University. Now it seems that This war will last for a long time... Can't believe

вс, 13 мар. 2022 г., 22:33 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <[email protected]>:

3/17/22

Saint Patrick’s Day

Can you get out of the Ukraine?Your country cannot keep up with this invasion over time.

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318/22
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No, can't leave the country, and know when I'll be able to do it.As I hear all the information we are going to win in this war. The coloumm movement not effective, javelin destroys it very easy, from 113 shots from javelin 100 are in the aim, this is a record of javelin usage. Last days we got stinger, so now on low altitube we destroy many airplanes. New help from USA provides us with higher alritude anti airplane systems. Russia is running out from airplanes. And that's it, So 2-3 weeks and they will need to go away from the Ukraine. That what analytics said, and it looks like true.
But that's what it should be only if putin won't do any dirty thing. We are very afraid of nuclear bomb, and many people who feel putin said that this is a question of time, strikes will go on USA also. So maybe, its better for you to go on vacation to Australia for some time, but I hope that some people won't let him do it. I hope it won't happen.

3/18/22

Oleksii,
I’m glad that you still are okay.

Your assessment is lucid, quite logical.

I pray for the world. Some day we will meet when this is over.

I’ll stay in contact with you.

3/18/22


Thank you, Kevin! Can't wait when it's going to be over and we will be able to travel all over the world. One day we will meet for sure.

пт, 18 мар. 2022 г., 08:10 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <[email protected]>:

​Note: I’ll keep you updated here at KPST.





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