Two years after the war: Ukrainian refugees grapple with exile and new beginnings
It has been two years since 24th February, which marked the ignition of the all-out war between Russia and Ukraine. Russian forces launched an attack on our eastern allies, shelling cities like Lviv, Kiev, and Odessa. Thousands of innocent lives were lost and millions were displaced from their homes.
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Many Ukrainians were left with no choice but to flee instantly. The Polish community welcomed these distressed neighbours with open hearts, offering them food, shelter, and unforgettably kind and consoling smiles.
Included among those who managed to narrowly escape the murderous grasp of the Russians was Ira Chernova from Kryvyi Rih. She fled from Ukraine with her little son, Arseniy, in her arms. In her dialogue with "Fact", she articulately recollects the moments of escape and subsequent arrival in Łódź.
It was tough, yet my friends were my rock. And the Poles too. They welcomed me wholeheartedly. I started anew. Unfamiliar language, and in my arms an 11-month-old baby. That's how I made my escape - the emotional Ukrainian shares with "Fakt".
The Ukrainian woman expresses her wish to permanently stay in Poland
Despite being a preschool teacher fluent in three languages (Ukrainian, English, Russian), Ira Chernova did not immediately secure a job in Poland. Her partner had to remain at home, where he continued his work whilst awaiting a potential draft to the military.
Two years later, the woman has indeed mastered the Polish language. "Fakt" reports that she envisions her future in our country.
I am eager to begin my studies here. I see my future in Poland. There's no peace in Kryvyi Rih, and I yearn for a normal life for my family. My little boy is safe here. There's a void in my heart for my homeland. But above all, Arseniy's welfare is my priority - Ira Chernova concludes, visibly moved.
