In Kansas City, Russians face competing pressures to respond to conflict in Ukraine

Many fear backlash from Russia if they speak out against war — but silence could mean harassment here at home.
When Jane Romanova-Hrenchir’s three kids were in elementary school three years ago, she was surprised by what they told her one day after class.

“They were coming home saying 'I don't wanna speak Russian.' And I said, ‘Why? It's, you know, it's your heritage.’”

That was in 2019, before the current invasion of Ukraine. Romanova-Hrenchir immigrated from Kazan, Russia in 2005 with her American husband. She still has family in Russia — some who don’t speak English.

Even back then, her kids said, “Our classmates don't like that we are Russian." The incident took Romanova-Hrenchir aback.