When Mykhailo “Misha” Golod got off the plane at Orlando International Airport in Florida on March 11, it marked the end of a marathon trip that the 15-year-old and his mother had undertaken to escape the war in his native Ukraine.
But his arrival in the United States from Kiev – while ensuring his safety – came at a price.
Golod’s mother would soon return to Ukraine to be with her father, who had to stay due to a war law prohibiting men aged 18-60 from leaving the country, and his grandparents. Although Golod thinks his grandparents and mother will travel to the United States, he is unsure when he will see his father next.
Although he values his security, it has weighed on him to have the majority of his family back in Ukraine in the midst of Russia’s invasion of the country.
“It’s very destructive, but luckily they all have Wi-Fi and a source of internet, food, water, and I can still talk to them and make sure they’m safe,” he told CNN.
“And I know that when it’s all over, I’ll definitely bring them here to be with me.”
Golod added: “My father will only be able to leave when the law of war ends. Otherwise he will have to stay in there and we hope for the best.”
Golod is one of the best young golfers in Ukraine and has participated in competitions around the world. After his grueling journey of 5,000 kilometers, it was a visa he had obtained from playing in a tournament in the United States that helped him re-enter the country and find safety.
Read more about Golod’s escape from Ukraine here and watch his interview with CNN here: