Inspirational woman who fled war celebrates Ukrainian culture in Liverpool

“On the 24th of February, I woke up to three massive explosions. I knew that it was really close because of the sound and vibration. The war had started.”

Veronika Yasynska fled Kyiv after Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year and has now become involved in projects for refugees in Liverpool.

The 28-year-old shares her moving story of how the war has affected Ukrainian families like hers with LiverpoolWorld.

Leaving Ukraine

“The 26th of February was the closest missile strike to a civilian building, right next to my house. That moment is a level of fear I will never forget,” Ms Yasynska recalls.

“Where I was living was not safe, because my house was on the same street as a military base and airport,” she said.

Ms Yasynska and her family were forced to leave their homes because of the tension and military strikes.

She regularly posted Instagram updates so that her friends would know she was still alive.

After leaving Kyiv, the family travelled to many cities around Ukraine and volunteered to help others in need, despite having no warm food or sleep.

She said: “We needed to just run and survive. We then journeyed through Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland and eventually made it to Liverpool on April 10.”

Inspired by her new home

After settling in Liverpool, Ms Yasynska, who was a PR and brand manager in Ukraine, began exploring the city and visited Liverpool Central Library.

She said: “It was one of the first places which I visited in Liverpool and I was mesmerised by the beauty of the Central Library. My next thought was that I wanted to show the library to each Ukrainian who came here because of the war.

“So in partnership with the library, we started to organise a tour for Ukraininans.”

Ms Yasynska believes that access to literature is important, she said: “Knowledge and education is an important weapon especially if someone doesn’t want to be an easy victim of propaganda.

“Since then, I faced the issue that young Ukrainians couldn’t find literature in our native tongue and decided to start a process with the library of purchasing Ukrainian books. Now you can find absolutely amazing varieties of books for children and adults.”

Another Ukrainian migrant living in Liverpool borrowed some books for her son and thanked Veronika ‘for helping us to not forget the native language.’

Celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day in Liverpool

Ukrainian Independence Day is on August 24, celebrating its declaration of independence from the U.S.S.R in 1991.

The holiday celebrates Ukrainian language, culture and those who fought for independence and it is more important than ever after Russia’s recent and continued invasion.

The Museum of Liverpool are planning events for Independence day and LiverpoolWorld will keep you updated.