As we mark the sombre anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, with little sign of the fight relenting, it remains a stark tragedy for the whole world. It is a reminder of how interconnected our lives are, it is a war not in isolation, it affects us all in some way.

According to the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, the number of people who fled Ukraine since February 24 is estimated at nearly 19 million. More than eight million Ukrainians settled in European countries, some moved further to the UK, Canada, the USA, and other countries. And around 10 million returned to Ukraine after a while abroad.

The story of one journey from Ukraine

The SPOKE team met with Tetiana Levchenko, LIBERTY Steel UK’s Communication Manager, and learned about her incredible journey fleeing the war in Ukraine with her family, (a daughter who was a year and a half, and son who was 12 years’ old at the time), encountering the kindness and generosity of LIBERTY staff in Ostrava along the way, and finally, making her way to the UK to start of a new life.

‘’The war in Ukraine for my family started long ago in 2014 when the Donbass and Lugansk regions of Ukraine were occupied by Russian soldiers and an anti-terrorist operation started there. We lived in Mariupol for two years, in close proximity to the front line, and one day when I got a job offer in another city, we took the opportunity to leave the feeling of constant danger behind and move our family to a safer place. That was the first time I let my senses lead me, as we fled our first war.

The constant run from conflict

We moved our home first to Kryvyj Rih, then to Kyiv, when war found us again. Like so many others, we had set roots and started to build our new life, but on 24 February 2022, along with millions of other hopes and dreams, ours came crashing down. I recall so clearly, that early morning which began with deafening explosions, air sirens, shock and disbelief. Hundreds of thousands of people were trying to escape from danger creating queues of cars for thousands of miles. There was horrific news about bombings, roads being destroyed from the air, occupation. We all felt trapped. And it was so easy to give into panic.

I fought the urge to succumb to despair, I had to focus and think about my family and our survival. Regardless of how challenging the circumstances are, if you pause, calm down and analyse the situation you will always find the right solution. If you have a single-minded objective, everything around you is an opportunity to reach your goal, and mine was the safety of my family.

The journey begins…

So, five days later we boarded the train heading towards the west of Ukraine to save our children from the horrors of the war.  

Our journey there took three, long days instead of the usual seven hours because the traffic was disrupted by constant air raids and shelling. But when the train stopped there were always people close-by from local villages offering hot, homemade food to feed those fleeing the war zone. It was so hard and so moving at the same time – the stark duality of life constantly around us, the terror of war juxtaposed by the kindness and generosity of strangers. 

During this time, I received many messages from my friends and colleagues abroad, which gave me a lot of strength during that period of uncertainty. Thanks to my friends, I found out about LIBERTY’s programme for Ukrainians in Ostrava. Several years ago, it was one of the assets of ArcelorMittal where I worked as the Head of Communications in Ukraine. In life, I have been guided by my instincts, and I took it as a sign, and I decided that’s where we would go.

On 13^th March, I took my children and we crossed the border with Poland. My husband stayed back in Ukraine. I knew nothing about my parents and other relatives because they were stuck in occupied Mariupol without mobile communication. I remember my children crying because they couldn’t understand why we had to leave Ukraine in such a big rush without their dad and grandparents.  

Support from LIBERTY Steel in Ostrava

Next day we arrived in Kovak, the LIBERTY Steel Ostrava hotel and were amazed by the hospitality and support provided by LIBERTY volunteers. There were around 60 Ukrainian women with children. And LIBERTY employees came to Kovak every day bringing clothes, toys, food, toiletries as they knew that many of us had left their homes with just one backpack. The children were happy to spend time with volunteers and play games, read books, and watch films together.

LIBERTY Ostrava became the second home for many Ukrainians, and we remained there for a month. Some of my fellow countrypeople stayed there for a while and then moved forward to another country. Some continue to live there even now. We are very grateful for everything that the LIBERTY Ostrava team did for us then. My children and I still remember that cosy place, peaceful parks and generous people from Ostrava.  

I did not believe that I would live to see the day when war would hit Europe again. As a schoolboy, I experienced life without freedom before 1989, so the news hit me very personally like a heavy boulder.

When the opportunity to help refugees came up at LIBERTY Ostrava, I was happy to join the team of helpers right away. I was grateful that I didn’t just have to watch the terrible things in the media, but that I could at least alleviate a little of the pain and suffering of families in need”, said Radim Raszka from LIBERTY Ostrava, one of the early volunteer helpers.

“I remember the first buses with scared and tired mothers and children, and I experienced immense gratitude and hugs just for helping some families get to the train station so they could continue on to their friends elsewhere in the world”.

“There are now 70 refugees living in Kovak accommodation, and since March 2022 we have helped about 130 people in total”.

Tetiana’s journey – continuing to the UK

After a month, one of my old school mates suggested applying for the UK sponsorship programme for Ukrainians. In May 2022, we found ourselves in the house of Lydia in Sheffield, an absolutely amazing woman who is part of our big family now. I admire her positive attitude towards life. Lydia helped us to settle in, to find a school for my son and a nursery for my daughter, to get a sense of British culture, from learning how to drive on the other side of the road, to renting our own house! Her support was invaluable and has played a key role in setting us up for the future.

A lucky coincidence  

I needed to work to support my family and when I started to look for a job, I happened to see the position for Communications Manager at LIBERTY Steel UK out of hundreds of other ads, and I applied for it without any hesitation. There I had another sign! It seemed to be too unbelievable to be true but sometimes it really happens, call it serendipity! After several interviews and references I got a position of Communications manager at LIBERTY Steel UK. And I am happy to be part of LIBERTY team now and share its values and corporate culture.

Looking back, I see that there were so many challenges that we faced it was easier to give up than to go through all these. But we did it. And it became possible due to amazing people that we met on our way. I can’t stop admiring people without war experience who have such a deep level of empathy and know what words to say, what to do and when just to hug you without saying anything.

To our people in Ostrava, know that your kindness has changed lives for the better, my family is a testament to that.

We learnt a lot from this war. It revealed our inner resources that even we didn’t know we had. Adaptive learning helped us to find our strength, power, determination to the aim and readiness to overcome any obstacles on our way.

I know that with such huge support across the globe, Ukraine will definitely get over this war. As Winston Churchill said: Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.