Five Ukrainian refugee women surviving in Jesuit seminary houses from inside the Warsaw state they are ending a turbulent season safe, safe and relaxed – even in the event however uneasily from inside the exile. From leftover to proper, the women are: Nadia Zhihalko, 46; Katya Zelinska, 27; Lubov Kadura, 67; and you may Yanyna Vasyk, 37. (NCR photo/Chris Herlinger)
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Four refugee women regarding various parts of Ukraine tossed together with her from the the brand new sad future from war say he is end a turbulent 12 months safer, safer and peaceful – although nevertheless uneasily in exile.
“I am ready to be here,” told you Katya Zelinska, twenty seven, on the organizations off Jesuit Refugee Solution during the Warsaw, near an excellent Jesuit seminary home on Polish resource, where five now alive. “I’m safe. I am not afraid.”
Four Ukrainian refugees share testimony: War’s catastrophe, people’s kindness, escape recollections
But she troubled, the modern life problem, “is only for the moment.” And the name “today,” she therefore the most other women accepted in 2 Panama gelin bul latest season-avoid interviews, has had into adjusted significance as the argument features extended better past exactly what either they or perhaps the war’s Russian perpetrators asked.
Zelinska plus the around three other people – Lubov Kadura, 67, Nadia Zhihalko, 46, and you can Yanyna Vasyk, 37 – are, obviously, eager to return to Ukraine.
“Needless to say, I would like to get back. And here my entire life are. The thing i understand,” Zhihalko said, their sound trailing off. “House is house. For the last residence is the important thing.”
But the women are still resolute one to conclude the battle can’t be finished at the cost of ceding one area to help you Russia – and that includes home Russia annexed during the 2014, including the Crimean Peninsula.
“Nooooo,” they told you together on JRS practices, and this adjoin this new Catholic Academy when you look at the Warsaw – Collegium Bobolanum, whoever university has a Jesuit seminary additionally the St. Andrew Bobola Retreat.
“There is no most other alternative,” Vasyk told you, shaking their direct. “Ukraine need profit. Why must we give-up homes? We just need comfort, however, as it was before 2014.”
The women are singularly pleased to the greeting accorded them and you will their own families from the Posts and by new Jesuits in particular.
They say he’s got heard about the brand new growing unease because of the a great brief fraction out of Poles in regards to the financial and you will personal challenges appealing 1.5 million refugees enjoys apply a nation out of nearly 38 million. But in order to one they state they have not experienced discrimination otherwise flashes off fury otherwise prejudice.
Gloss and Ukrainian flags viewed into a road out-of Warsaw’s Old Area ahead of Christmas time. Even after historical stress, perceiver state the 2 nations consider Russia, and therefore occupied Ukraine for the February, once the a common adversary and for that reason, try improving relations collectively. (NCR images/Chris Herlinger)
What they do have educated is the issue out-of understanding the fresh Shine words, which has an entirely various other software than Ukrainian, together with needing to simply take reasonable-purchasing jobs, like clean houses – a common experience for the majority Ukrainian refugees which, while the a team, is actually predominately feminine. (Really husbands, brothers, dads and you will boyfriends stay static in Ukraine, conscripted toward armed forces provider.)
Sebastian Lelek, one of several Jesuit seminarians holding the fresh new refugees, told you the women – some of which have youngsters coping with them – enjoys adapted well on the the newest surroundings, which have both the refugee parents together with Jesuits enjoying tea, people and you will periodic items with her.
Towards the end of one’s times the latest four family have a tendency to circulate out of their last-living area to help you new household into seminary campus, offering the women and you can household with confidentiality. (Throughout, the brand new Jesuits are houses 11 people at this time: five women, several guys and you may four people.)