Ukrainian refugee tells us her story on 3rd anniversary of war in Ukraine

Today, 24 February marks the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

We will be flying the Ukrainian flag at County Hall to show our continued support and solidarity.

Olena who were evacuated from Kyiv with her two daughters (12 and 10) in 2022 after her husband died. She told us her story: 

"We spent a few months in Poland with my late husband’s parents, hoping we could return home soon.

Eventually I made the decision to apply for visa in UK, so my kids could have a stable childhood, especially considering that within a year of the full-scale invasion, they had lost their father. I had to rebuild our lives and provide them with safety.

A host family took us in, and we lived with their caring support and guidance for almost two years.

I took a long time to recover my strength, but the family we lived with helped us tremendously. I am immensely grateful to them. But the first year was not easy, especially as I struggled to find a job.

After almost two years with our wonderful host family, it was time to move on.  It was important for my children to go to school on their own and feel independent—doing things like shopping for groceries and walking the dogs, and I had secured a job in the retail sector that allowed me to rent private accommodation.

Finding a place to rent was difficult—I started looking in autumn 2023 and was only able to secure a home in May 2024. My income was not high enough, and as the only adult in the household, agencies kept rejecting me. They also refused due to the fact that we had three pets who had travelled with us from Ukraine.

Eventually I was successful in my application to work with the library team at Dorset Council, and my colleagues there are truly incredible—their presence has had a therapeutic impact on my life.  And the Dorset community is just a source of strength!

This place has become a place of power for me because I have been surrounded by people who have taught me so much and are always willing to help.

It is truly a miracle when one person cares for another! I am so grateful to the people around me for their open hearts!

When my husband was ill, I couldn’t rescue him, but as my children are growing up, I want to protect them from the war and make sure they have a good education.”

Cllr Ryan Hope, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Culture, and Community Engagement at Dorset Council, said, "As we observe the third anniversary of this conflict, we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and reaffirm our commitment to those fleeing the conflict in their homeland.

“We will raise the Ukrainian flag to send a clear message of support, especially to those Ukrainians who have chosen to make our county their home in the past years.

“We also want to thank local voluntary and community organisations we work with for ensuring refugees arriving from Ukraine are welcomed and receive the support they need.”

Dorset Council’s Ukraine Response Team are there for both hosts and refugees.

Pease do not hesitate to contact us by email: ukraineresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, telephone: 01305 221000.