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MAYFIELD, Ohio — It was a gut-wrenching farewell in western Ukraine.

Taras Pastouk in military uniform is saying goodbye to his family. He is going to fight for his country. 

His brother Vladimir, a greater Cleveland dentist, was there to take the photo.

"My brother woke me up at 5 o'clock in the morning. He said, 'Get up! It's Russians bombing Ukraine,'" said Dr. Pastouk as we spoke to him at his practice in Mayfield Village. 

Dr. Pastouk was in Ukraine, to bury his father, and due to leave the very next day -- the same day the Russian Army swarmed into the country. He managed to get on a train to Poland. His photograph below shows the crush of crowds also trying to leave.

Dr. Pastouk's thoughts are with his brother, who is now fighting.

"His wife and four kids are at home. My stepmom is there as well. They try to stay strong," he said.  

In Cleveland, Pastouk believes he can do more here.

"I organize shipment of medicine for kids and soldiers. Blood-stopping supplies. We will be taking all this to Ukrainian church and they will send it to Ukraine," he said.

Vladimir Pastouk came here to the U.S. several years ago from his homeland of Ukraine. But during the 1980's Ukraine was part of the Old Soviet Union. And as a Ukrainian citizen, Pastouk was drafted into the Soviet Union's Army, where he served for two years.  

Pastouk was assigned to a Moscow medical unit before the old Soviet Union empire collapsed, paving the way for Ukraine's independence. He reflects on his Soviet military years.

"But it is no means close to what's happening now, to draft Ukrainian men and women, what they are doing now in protecting their country," Pastouk said.

The images from Ukraine show many faces and voices of an embattled country. Five thousand miles away, this too is a face of Ukraine, believing somehow -- his homeland will survive.

"There is no doubt about the outcome. Russians will be out of Ukraine. It's just a question of time," Pastouk believes. 

Dr. Pastouk is working with the Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church to gather donations. They are no longer accepting food or clothing, but are in need of medicine and monetary donations. 

The address is: 6812 Broadview Road, Parma Ohio. 

Donations accepted M-F 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Here is the list of supplies needed: 

*** items above are needed most, but all medical supplies are needed and being collected. ***

****please NO hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol***

*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report. 

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