HOME for Natalia (25) and Pedro (28) is now at the Oakwood in Shannon, having left their native Lviv after Russia’s invasion.
Also with them are Natalia’s 16-year-old brother and her six-year-old sister.
At the moment her brother is still getting online education from Ukraine just as Irish children did during the various lockdowns, while her sister is one of 13 Ukrainian children at St Conaire’s.
While both want to return to Ukraine as soon as will be possible, Natalia is delighted with the welcome they have received in Shannon.
“It’s lovely here. We have a place to stay, food, schools, English classes, everything we need is here.”
Her parents are still at home in Ukraine, and due to the nature of their jobs in a medical company there, they cannot leave.
Pedro’s father is also still at home, but his mother and sister have left for Italy, where they have relatives.
Pedro himself was already out of Ukraine by the time hostilities broke out, and is precluded from military service due to a medical condition.
Natalia said she left almost immediately after the invasion began.
“When the war started on February 24 I took the children and went to Poland. This was the first day of the war.”
While there were warnings from the US for several weeks that Russia could attempt an invasion, Pedro says people didn’t think it would really happen.
“Mostly people didn’t believe a war would start,” he told The Champion.
Both have qualifications in law, while Pedro has also trained in IT and Natalia in photography.
While they would rather be at home, Pedro says they want to work while they are here, and also want to take the opportunity to learn English.
“When we’re here we want to work but when the war is over we want to go back home. While we’re here it’s an opportunity to improve our English. We want to get jobs to improve it.”
Natalia said that friends of her family have perished in the struggle against the invaders.
“My parents worked in the army before their current job, they worked there for three or four years. They have a lot of friends who are fighting Russia and some of them have died.”
Natalia’s father was actually born in Russia and spent his early years there, but there is no question of divided loyalties among her family or any doubt about the depravity of the Russian attack.
Both are very confident that Ukraine will eventually repel the invasion.
“We believe we will win the war. Ukraine is a strong country,” said Pedro.
“The whole world knows now that Ukraine is a strong country. In future all people will know about it.
“We are a new country, only independent for 30 years, but we have a long history before independence too. We are a strong country, we will win and Russia will go back to Russia,” added Natalia.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.