In America's ancestral Ukrainian heartland in coal-mining Pennsylvania, home to the country's largest Ukrainian-American community, residents closely monitor the situation in Ukraine. "It's very, very sad, very, very emotional for all of us," says John Smolock, an American of Ukrainian descent who donated $400 towards the purchase of a bulletproof vest for Ukrainian forces. Some are reported to be willing to take up arms themselves, "especially those who have some kind of military background," according to local Ukrainian pastor Petro Zvarych. As she prepares halupki, a traditional stuffed cabbage dumpling, Michelle Hume fights back tears while talking about the Russian invasion of her ancestors' homeland, but remains hopeful: "Ukrainians, I think, are very strong-willed people." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES