A UKRAINIAN refugee who has settled in Droitwich and her host are reflecting on the past 12 months as tomorrow (Friday) marks the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Oksana Komolova, from Rubizhne, moved to the town after Julia Letts and her husband Neil signed up for the ‘Homes for Ukraine’.
Julia said: “We were prompted by deep horror at the destruction and murder taking place on our doorstep and the fact we had space for a small family.
“I remember Oksana and her son Kyril’s first morning – they were pale and exhausted but safe for the first time in months.
“They had brought just one suitcase between them – our Ladywood neighbours rallied round providing everything – bikes, duvets, pans and clothes.”
Oksana spoke no English but her bravery and determination were clear from the start.
Within two weeks she had a job, within four she had mastered the bus system and supermarkets and within six weeks she was on an English course and Kyril had started at Droitwich High School.
Julia added: “Six months on, life has settled into a normal routine for them and us.
“As hosts we’ve learned many things along the way – such as how complex the ‘system’ is for people who arrive here with no money, possessions or English.
“We’ve met new friends – other host families, other Ukrainian families and community volunteers.
“We celebrated Ukrainian Christmas Eve on January 6 and gulped back tears as a child told Father Christmas what he wanted for Christmas was peace.”
Oksana said February 24, 2022, had ‘blackened the lives of Ukrainians and Ukraine’.
“There’s ‘before’ and ‘after’ – that morning Ukraine woke up to explosions and a complete lack of understanding of what was happening.
“People refused to believe the war had begun. Our family was no exception.
“The town of Rubizhne was the first to resist aggression in the Luhansk region.
“Fighting continued until May. Most of the town was destroyed.
“Almost all our infrastructure was completely flattened.”
Oksana learned about the Homes for Ukraine programme from her friend who persuaded her to apply.
“I didn’t believe in good things anymore. But everything worked out very fast.
“A family agreed to take me and my son, and the documents came quickly.”
She added another challenge approached – the journey.
As they were living in Russian-occupied territory, they would have to travel into Russia and through four countries to get to the UK.
“It was very scary to leave, but it was even more scary to stay.”
She added when the plane landed at Birmingham International her head was full of doubts about whether it would work out, what if they could not go back and what would happen.
“But since meeting our hosts in Ladywood, I constantly have in mind the words from the book Valkyrie by P Coelho – that guardian angels reveal themselves through people.
“I am sure most Ukrainian families who have come here feel the same.
“But our hearts continue to ache for Ukraine and the relatives that have stayed there. And our greatest wish is for the war to end.”
Julia added they had watched in despair as the war in Ukraine had dropped further down the news agenda and she contacted the Standard in the hope those reading this would continue to support Ukrainians living in our communities.
“Many are now settling into their own flats, but these are often unfurnished, and the Ukrainians have few possessions.
“If you are getting rid of furniture, carpets or kitchen things, please consider offering them to the local Ukrainian network.”
