SOUTHSIDE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – When Richard Matheny left for a vacation in Ukraine, he wasn’t expecting to get married, or that it would take him 3 1/2 years to make it back to his home in Montgomery County.
An author and retired political science professor, Matheny decided to visit Ukraine in 2019. While there, he met Larissa and the two got married. But between troubles with the US embassy in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict with Russia, getting a visa for Larissa proved difficult.
“Once the pandemic hit, I was stuck,” Matheny told Clarksville Now. “I couldn’t get my wife out, and I couldn’t even help myself. So I stayed in my apartment, I built some furniture.”
While there, Matheny also wrote a book about Russian aggression towards Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea and the role of the U.S. in that conflict.
The Mathenys found an apartment in Brovary, about half an hour east of Kyiv, while waiting out the immigration process.
‘I’m not going to let the Russians kick my door down’
Then, in February, Russia invaded Ukraine. The Mathenys felt more stuck than ever.
“I’m not going to let the Russians kick my door down,” Matheny said. “I started stocking up on food, stocking up on water and bottled gas. … I was ready. I did everything, and thought I was stuck.”
He tried to volunteer for the Ukrainian military; but at 76 years old, he was encouraged to try to get out of the country.
Matheny said he was inspired by the bravery of the Ukrainian people and their readiness to defend against Russian aggression.
“These young men and women with no combat experience rose up in volunteer battalions, and they’re the ones that stopped the rebel advance and the Russian advance at great cost,” said a tearful Matheny. “The Ukrainian people are very courageous. They’re very brave. They’re building a democracy over there.”
Leaving Ukraine
With the help of Larissa’s son, currently serving in the Ukrainian reserves, Matheny’s brother, and Congressman Mark Green, the Mathenys were able to schedule a visa interview in Krakow, Poland.
The drive from Brovary to Krakow, which would normally take about 13 hours, took over 40 due to the number of Ukrainians trying to get out.
“They were fatalistic. What happens is going to happen,” Matheny said. “We loaded up the car with our luggage and left. It took us four hours to get through Kyiv. … The people trying to get out was panic. There were thousands of cars.”
After they arrived in Krakow, it took another three days for Larissa to receive her six month visa. From there, they flew to Amsterdam and then to Atlanta.
It was the first time Matheny had been on American soil in over three years.
Back in Southside
The Mathenys are now settled at their home in Southside and are adjusting to life in the U.S.
Larissa told Clarksville Now she has been pleased by the warm welcome she has received from Tennesseans.
Matheny said they hope to eventually be able to spend their summers in Ukraine to be near Larissa’s family. In the meantime, they hope to do what they can to spread awareness of what is going on in Ukraine, and to encourage Americans to help where they can.
“(Ukraine) has been struggling for centuries for freedom,” said Matheny. “But there isn’t an Iron Curtain anymore, and they see what’s going on in the West.”