This article first appeared on News Station WILX
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – “I miss my friends, I miss my place where I was living, I mean, I miss my house, everything. Everything,” said Ukrainian refugee Artem Kharko.
After the war in Ukraine started, 16-year-old Kharko came to Michigan. He now attends high school in suburban Detroit, at Manoogian. He was at the state capital Thursday, along with more than 40 other Ukrainian students. They all fled war-torn Ukraine, many leaving their family and belongings behind. Some of the students have only been speaking English since coming to America less than a year ago.
They said it’s been a great opportunity to learn more, but they all seem to have one thing on their mind.
“Everyone says like that they want to (go) back to Ukraine because it’s so hard because it’s like the place where you are born,” said Kharko.