>>> TOMORROW MARKS A YEAR SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE SINCE FLED THAT WAR-TORN COUNTRY , SOME SEEKING REFUGE HERE IN CHICAGO.

FOR THIS WEEK'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND PRODUCER ACOSTA HERNANDEZ SPENT TIME IN UKRAINIAN VILLAGE SPEAKING WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOW CALLING THAT COMMUNITY HOME.

AND JOANNA JOINS US NOW.

>> Reporter: PARIS, THIS HASN'T BEEN AN EASY TRANSITION FOR THOSE UKRAINIANS FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.

WE SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO DESCRIBED IT AS IF SOMEONE WOULD TAKE THEIR LIFE AND CUT IT IN THE MIDDLE.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE MAILROOM AND AND HIS FAMILY ESCAPED UKRAINE.

>> TOTALLY NORMAL LIFE WITHOUT ANYTHING WHO CAN TOLD YOU TOMORROW OR THE LAW OF YOU AND TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM GOING TO.

>> Reporter: RUBIN REFLECTS ON THE PAINFUL FLASHBACKS OF THE DAY HIS FAMILY WAS FORCED TO LEAVE HIS HOME IN KYIV.

>> WE WRITE OUR NAME AND THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE , MY FRONT ILIA JACKET .

INSIDE .

ON THE JACKET.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS , SHE MUST LEAVE.

>> THEY LIED TO US, DESTROYED OUR NATION, THEY COULDN'T STAND THAT WE COULD SEE .

>> Reporter: A HEART WRENCHING REALITY SHE SINGS ABOUT.

>> IT'S ABOUT THE BLAME WITHOUT THEM .

BUT THEY'RE AROUND.

CHILDREN DYING IN UKRAINE.

THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED.

AND WHY AM I ALIVE?

>> Reporter: SHE MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITH HER SON WHILE HER HUSBAND STAYED BEHIND TO FIGHT.

SHE'S NOW A MANAGER AT A CLEANING COMPANY HIRING OTHER UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

>> A HELPLESS CRY OF MOTHER WHO HAS LOST HER CHILD.

>> Reporter: ON A MISSION TO USE HER VOICE TO RAISE AWARENESS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST NOT FORGET, BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM , WE MUST PROTECT IT.

WE MUST TAKE ACTION.

IF WE DON'T STOP THIS EVIL IN UKRAINE , IT WILL SPREAD FURTHER.

>> Reporter: ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, UKRAINIAN VILLAGE HAS BECOME A PILLAR OF HOPE FOR HUNDREDS OF UKRAINIANS.

>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF NEW ARRIVALS.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP EVERYBODY AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> Reporter: AT THE SELF-RELIANCE ASSOCIATION, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OLEG MUSKIE SAYS SINCE NOVEMBER, THEY'VE ASSISTED HUNDREDS OF UKRAINIANS WITH ENGLISH CLASSES TO STATE BENEFITS.

>> WE HELP THEM TO FILE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR MEDICAID, YOU KNOW, HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE STATE , SNAP, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FOOD STAMPS, SO-CALLED, >> Reporter: WAS A PROFESSOR IN UKRAINE, NADIA SMALLEY COLLEGE SAID SHE FOUND STRENGTH WORKING AT THE ORGANIZATION SINCE SHE FLED THE WAR.

>> I MISSED MY FRIENDS.

I MAKE MY COWORKERS , BECAUSE I WORKED AT A DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY.

>> Reporter: AND AT SAINT NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL, 75 UKRAINIAN STUDENTS ARE STARTING A NEW JOURNEY.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE, RIGHT NOW, WE FOCUS ON OUR CURRENT MISSION OF EDUCATING THESE STUDENTS SO THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO GO BACK HOME, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: RUBIN'S SON IS ONE OF THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE SCHOOL.

>> A NEW COUNTRY, AND PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL TAKE US , TAKE MY SON, AND TOLD ME, OKAY, WE WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES, HE'S NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH.

SOMETIMES, HE'S NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT -- EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE SUPPORT.

MY WIFE ALSO GOING HERE LIKE A VOLUNTEER.

>> Reporter: PRINCIPAL ANIS O'REILLY SAYS THE COMMUNITY HAS SPRUNG INTO ACTION BY DONATING FOOD AND OPENING THEIR HOMES FOR THOSE NEEDING A PLACE TO STAY.

>> I GUESS THAT'S THE SILVER LINING, IS, IS ALL OF THE AWARDS THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING, AND THEN TO SEE THESE FAMILIES AND THESE CHILDREN BOND OVER THIS EXPERIENCE, I THINK IT'S THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN WISH FOR IN SUCH A TRAGIC SITUATION.

>> WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR SON NOW HERE IN CHICAGO?

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR HIM?

>> GOOD LIFE.

GOOD LIFE HERE , AND BE AN AMERICAN.

>> YOU SOMETIMES FEEL THAT THAT THERE'S STILL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN UKRAINE THAT THEY COULD NOT LEAVE?

>> SURE.

SURE.

SURE.

I KNOW HOW THOSE PEOPLE CANNOT LEAVE , AND THEY STAY IN UKRAINE, AND THEY CANNOT -- THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY WHERE THEY CAN GO.

>> Reporter: TOMORROW, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE HOSTING A LARGE RALLY ON THESE CHURCH STEPS TO REFLECT UKRAINIAN