ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A graduate from the Eastman School of Music is trying to escape the city of Kyiv, Ukraine as Russian troops continue their assault on the country.

“Everyone’s on edge in here right now,” violinist Kostia Lukyniuk said. “It’s very stressful, but you know, we’re holding on.”

What You Need To Know

  •  Former Eastman School of Music student Kostia Lukyniuk is trying to escape Kyiv, Ukraine

  • Lukyniuk and his brother fled their apartment to the train station and are trying to get to their hometown

  • Lukyniuk is a violinist who wants to use his music and platform to raise awareness and money for the soldiers in Ukraine who are taking on the fight against Russian insurgents

Hunkered down in a dark and crowded train station in Kyiv, Lukyniuk and his brother are trying to get to safety as Russian forces bear down on the city.

“We’ve just got all our stuff in here, all our instruments and belongings,” Lukyniuk said. “Literally everything I have is with me right now. It’s packed with people and it’s all dark.”

Among the items Lukyniuk carries with him is his violin.

Just a few weeks ago, Lukyniuk was in Rochester attending school at the Eastman School of Music. But his visa requirements forced him back to Ukraine.

“So I stayed until the very last day that I could," said Lukyniuk. "But I had to leave. And as soon as I came here, February 12, in 12 days we got all of this happening."

On Tuesday, after hearing explosions for days and now witnessing death, the brothers headed to the train station to escape to their hometown in the western region of the country. Lukyniuk described the grave situation in Kyiv.

"Actually, there have been some really bad things that happened,” Lukyniuk said. “This one TV tower that we have for communication power got hit today with rockets and five bystanders were completely killed on the spot.”

Like the rest of the people in Ukraine, Lukyniuk is forced from his normal life into a life of war.

”I am not a soldier. I am a musician," said Lukyniuk.

The 22-year-old wants to use his music and his platform to raise awareness and money for the soldiers in Ukraine who are taking on the fight.

He thanks Rochester for helping him hone his craft and grow in many ways.

“Rochester became very close to me because I have made some amazing friends there and I have met a lot of amazing people there who have supported me and are still supporting me a lot,” Lukyniuk said. “I have a very warm feeling about Rochester people.”

While Kostia would rather be playing his violin and performing, the focus now is for him and his brother to stay alive.

“Especially now, they are bombing everything,” Lukyniuk said. “They’re bombing, so who knows if they bomb this place right now, or not. I don’t really know, but hopefully it’s not going to happen.”