On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine which led to one of the largest mass displacements in modern history with an estimated 6.3 million refugees scattered across Europe and beyond, as reported by UNHCR. Many Ukrainians have sought refuge in the United States, whether by acquiring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or through the U.S. government’s Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship model. Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) has welcomed Ukrainians for decades through the Lautenberg Visa and other immigration pathways, and since the invasion, has served more than 215 Ukrainian women, children, and seniors arriving in Maryland and Virginia.
Many of our colleagues also resettled in the DMV due to the war, including one Refugee and Immigrant Services (RIS) team member whose story we’re sharing below. As we approach the two-year mark of the invasion, we spoke with her about her experience of the war and her journey to the United States. Her story is a reminder of the enduring spirit that propels individuals to overcome adversity in pursuit of a better tomorrow.
Pre-war
Prior to the war, I resided in Bakhmut, east of Ukraine. Although the conflict had been ongoing since 2014, my city had not been annexed at that time. Despite the growing proximity of the war, I could not bring myself to leave because I had responsibilities to my mom, grandmother, and father. In 2020, my father passed away, leaving my mom and grandmother in need of support. With a daughter and son attending school and daycare (aged 8 and 2), and living with my husband, who was pursuing IT studies at a university in northeast Ukraine, our family dynamic was complex. On February 22, 2022, just days before the war intensified, my daughter and I went to visit my husband in Sumy, where he was studying.
My son stayed with my mom as he was too young and thinking I would be back soon. We planned to be in Sumy for two weeks
The Invasion
The 24th of February brought a sudden and terrifying escalation. Explosions echoed at 5 a.m., and the city was in chaos. Despite our efforts to return to Bakhmut, blown-up bridges and widespread destruction turned a normally four-hour journey into a harrowing 20-hour ordeal. Upon reaching Bakhmut, I retrieved my son, but my elderly grandmother could not be moved and, tragically, passed away in April 2023. Back in Sumy, encountering Russian soldiers and checkpoints heightened our fear, yet we persisted, explaining our situation to pass through. Our return to Sumy revealed that my mother and daughter had sought refuge in a shelter due to the invading forces shooting at civilians. Two weeks in a shelter with no electricity followed, as leaving the city was deemed unsafe.
With the conflict escalating, our nomadic life continued. The Russian government granted foreign students’ green cards to leave, leading us to join a caravan of buses evacuating students. The journey to the west of Ukraine, specifically Ivano-Frankivsk, was perilous, lasting four days. Living in our car upon arrival, we faced homelessness until a friend of my husband’s mother offered us shelter. After a week, they assisted us in renting a house in a nearby village, where we lived for four months.
Leaving Ukraine
As the war continued and our life continued to be that of a nomad, we decided to move outside of Ukraine. We wanted to move to Canada or the United States. We contacted a potential sponsor in Maryland and moved in August. Our sponsors were a Ukrainian-American and his wife, an American from New Jersey. They found us an apartment, were our guarantor for rent, and they helped with rent and furniture.
Settling in the United States
When I arrived in the United States it was so different. We settled in Towson, MD. My son had issues in school because he did not speak good English and they could not understand him. He had difficulties doing his homework. I cried for six months and wanted to go back. I did not have friends; it was a different culture and different food and people. We couldn’t access the same medicines we were used to getting over-the-counter without prescriptions. The English was different from what I know.
Then I started adapting. I also learned that a lot of Ukrainians were facing the same issues. That is why I wanted to join LSSNCA. I help people adapt better and quicker than I did.
In April 2023, my grandmother fell sick, she was 90 years old when she left this earth. I couldn’t go to the funeral because I couldn’t leave the United States. My mom later moved to Sumy and rented an apartment close to my husband’s mother. We support her because she is retired, and her pension is horrible. I asked my mom to move but she said no. she is 61 years old, and she says she likes trees with roots – something she thinks she cannot find here in the United States. I understand her choice because she is old and can’t speak the language and she does not drive. I also did not drive until I came to the United States because in Ukraine, it’s not common to for women to drive.
Looking Forward
I’m excited to welcome my third child in the United States. My due date is at the end of February. My baby girl is coming to this world on the same day my city was invaded, and our life changed forever. It’s ironic. Since moving to the United States my life has changed, I drive, I know how to pay taxes, I understand a lot of things I did not know before. It is much easier now. The first year was hard but step-by-step I adapted.
When I am working with program participants who are having a difficult time being here, I always try to show them the opportunities of being here. There are a lot of opportunities. For me personally, I look forward to buying my own house. It’s always been my dream to own a home that I can raise my children in.
Serve Boldly 