Ukraine: Refugees in Southampton talk of the future on war anniversary

As Russian troops invaded Ukraine, most people around the world were unsure how long this conflict would last - or what effect it would have on their lives. 

In cities across Ukraine, explosions were heard as tanks rolled in from Russia and Belarus.

A mass exodus followed as people fled the capital Kyiv and other cities hoping to escape the reach of Putin’s army, while at the same time Europe’s doors were flung open to welcome refugees.

Svitana Sichkar, 36, who would end up finding refuge in Southampton, describes the sense of “shock” in people on the morning of February 24.

As an English teacher, she had to go to work on the morning of the invasion.

She said: “Nobody believed until the morning of the 24th. We were shocked.”

She juggled her everyday tasks like food shopping and having to flee to bomb shelters when air raid sirens sounded.

On March 14, just three weeks after the invasion, the UK government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme to help individuals house Ukrainian refugees in Britain.

Svitlana with her daughter, Daryna, 10, and her son, Sasha, 14, arriving in the UK (Image: Svitana Sichkar)

At this point Svitlana, together with her 10-year daughter Daryna and 14-year-old son Sasha, applied for sponsorship but left her husband to take care of his small business.

She was settled in her decision to come to the UK as she was already fluent in English.

After finding a sponsor family they flew from Poland to Bristol where they were welcomed by their Southampton hosts in May.

She said: “My first impression really was that this is a very green country, and it was colder in Ukraine, and we didn't have many flowers and so many green trees. The weather here was much warmer.”

“I should say that it was very nice, our sponsors were very well, we were really lucky, they are teachers and they helped us a lot.

“I can't say that I felt any discomfort because of food, because of time, so everything was very nice.”

Daryna, 10, and Sasha,14, at Bargate in Southampton (Image: Svitana Sichkar)

The two children were found a school and Svitlana was offered a job as a teaching assistant at Cantell School.

Although she found a safe place to stay, she said she always felt like the family had been separated after leaving her husband.

She said: “It wasn’t easy because my husband stayed alone in the house, and it was very hard to hear [what was happening].

“It was difficult emotionally because we had never stayed apart from each other for such a long time.”

Although she found a home in Southampton and two welcoming hosts, she couldn’t cope with being separated from her husband and her family and in February this year she moved back to Ukraine - even with the war still raging.

Svitlana with her husband and two children (Image: Svitlana Sichkar)

She said: “This is mostly because I want to be with my family and the children want to be with their dad and also because I think that there should be some consistency in education as well, especially for my son.

“I feel very thankful, and I think that English people are really cool, really nice and very kind.”

Alina Lohvinova, 26 (Image: Newsquest)

Alina Lohvinova, 26, from Odesa also found a home in Southampton, after travelling across Europe when the war started.

She went from her home country to Moldova and then to Switzerland where she applied for the Homes for Ukraine scheme. She was matched with a sponsor couple in just over a month.

She is passionate about photography and settled in Southampton at the advice of an uncle who told her to choose somewhere on the south coast with warmer weather.

She said: “He told me to come to Southampton as it’s is close to the best temperature for me. And even for photography and art, London is near, so I could travel around and it will be fine.”

While it took her getting used to the British accent she said she has found a home in the city.

Alina Lohvinova (Image: Alina Lohvinova)

She said: “I started to adapt in the first days. I thought ‘okay, I know English, so everything is fine’ but then after I listened to the accent I thought ‘okay, maybe it will take a little bit of time’ but it’s fine now.”

After her sponsors moved elsewhere she rented a room where she is happy while she works as an assistant librarian at Cantell School.

She said: “I think I'm in a place where I need to be right now. I’m trying all my best to make students' lives better and smile for them, to make them happy.”

She is happy staying in the UK and hopes to stay here for a few years and to travel.

She added: “I don't have a plan to go back to Ukraine, to be honest.

"I want to stay here. I'm thinking if I will stay in the UK for a few years, I'm still thinking, but in Europe for sure.”

This story is echoed by so many Ukrainians who made friends with their sponsors, including people like Olha who moved here in May and lives with her sponsor.

Olha, who did not want her surname published, said: “I remember my first impression of Southampton like it was yesterday. I was walking in the park and still expected to hear air alarms.

“It is strange how a lot of stress influences your body and mind, and you only notice it in a safer environment. Initially, I was numb and empty, but after a few months, I felt more comfortable here.

“I am so grateful to my host and the people I have met along the way for their patience and hospitality.”

Olha’s sponsor, Agie Baker, describes the friendship between her and her sponsor as a “lifelong friendship” and says she looks forward to continuing to be a sponsor “for as long as necessary”.