Lincoln man helps 10 family members flee war-torn Ukraine

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln man and Ukraine native helped 10 of his family members escape the war-torn country.

All of them landed in the capital city a few weeks ago, safe and sound.

Constantine Syniy, the owner of All-Pro Heating and Air Conditioning, has spent the last 15 years running his business and the last 21 years in the United States.

But before that, he lived near the Black Sea in Kherson, Ukraine, a place that is now covered in rubble.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Syniy said. “I was like ‘what do you mean invasion,’ so it was a big deal.”

It was at that moment that he knew he had to help his family back in Ukraine.

For weeks, Syniy and some of his family who live in the U.S. worked together to get 10 of their family members out of Ukraine and on a plane to the United States.

And as of a few weeks ago, all 10 are here in Lincoln.

Syniy said it was an overwhelming experience, but he would do it again in a heartbeat.

“It’s a huge relief, huge relief because the time bombs started blowing up up there and the time they were traveling from one place to another place, all the way through,” Syniy said. “When they came here, it was a celebration.”

One of those family members is Syniy’s brother, Alex.

He fled Kherson with his family just hours after the invasion, leaving everything behind and watching chaos unfold from the car window.

“I hear ‘boom’ at the airport in Kherson, and we, my kids, we saw like fire at airport in our city,” Alex said.

Alex said he’s thankful to be here and grateful to his family.

He said the Lincoln community has welcomed them with open arms.

“I feel good because lots of people are so kind to our family and lots of help,” Alex said.