ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee their country when Russia attacked Ukraine one year ago this Friday.

Tens of thousands would eventually make their way to the United States.

It’s estimated nearly 8 million Ukrainians fled their homeland in the past year because of the war, with about 100,000 of them coming to the U.S.

However, their welcome to stay is on a limited basis and time is running out.

Five-year-old twins Mathew and Timothy attend school in Gananda. This week, they are spending time during their winter break at the playground with their mom, Anna Krasnova.

"They go every day to school and like to go by bus and they have a beautiful teacher,” Krasnova said. “And even though they don’t speak English really well, they catch on quickly.”

Anna, her husband and the boys are thankful to be here after making a long and grueling trip to Rochester from the Dunbass region of Ukraine. It’s where their hometown was being bombed by Russia and is now occupied by Russian troops.

“We don’t want to live in this whole mess that has happened now there,” Krasnova said. “And it’s dangerous for me and for my family to come back there.”

On April 21, the U.S. welcomed up to 100,000 Ukrainians through the Uniting for Ukraine program. It’s a private sponsorship program that allows temporary stays for displaced Ukrainians. And for a short time last April, the U.S. allowed a limited number of Ukrainians to enter the country through the Mexican border. Anna’s family was among them.

“Those people were only paroled for a year and they have nothing," said attorney Andriy Shestopalko. 

A native of Ukraine himself, Shestopalko is trying to help. He receives some 40 to 50 calls a day from people seeking guidance.

“So these people come to us on humanitarian parole and they’re on status, but it’s a temporary status,” Shestopalko said. "[There’s] no official way of extending it and very few options.”

“Nobody says exactly what we must do," said Krasnova. “The government didn’t tell us about what to do. And they say that they know our situation. But they don’t have any instruction. And they don’t give us instruction on what we must do.”

“There’s no regulation or law on the books mentioning the word re-parole,” Shestopalko said. “And once you have that, there’s no real mechanism in place to extend that parole. Depending on the administration, if something is not specifically written in there, then it’s up to the interpretation of the administration. So that’s by far I think the biggest struggle, the biggest question, is what happens next?"

Krasnova does not want to uproot her family again.

“We have stress to come to another country,” Krasnova said. “Stress with starting a new life. Stress with starting new languages and new rules.”

The family hopes to be able to make our area their second home.

“When you came from war, the most things that you really understand and you really appreciate – your kids are safe, you’re not waking up in the morning and think maybe my house will be destroyed today, maybe some Russian rockets will come and my kids, my family will be dead,” Krasnova said. “It’s what you start to do it’s really thanks for your life and for all that you have.”

The family's humanitarian parole status expires on April 20.