A New Home Without Fear: A Ukrainian Family’s Story from Mykolaiv.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, our family lived in Mykolaiv, in one of the most dangerous areas of the city because of the constant attacks. From the very first days of the war, everything that could fly in our direction did. It quickly became impossible to stay.
We welcomed the New Year in a new home. Without fear. Without panic. With electricity. And most importantly — together as a family.
A New Home Without Fear: A Ukrainian Family’s Story from Mykolaiv. “We welcomed the New Year in a new home — without fear, without panic, and together as a family.”
In Iryna’s own words:
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, our family lived in Mykolaiv, in one of the most dangerous areas of the city because of the constant attacks. From the very first days of the war, everything that could fly in our direction did. It quickly became impossible to stay.
At the end of March, we were forced to leave the city and move to the Odesa region. Later that summer, we relocated to the city of Odesa itself. At first, it felt quieter and calmer, but eventually the war reached there too. In recent months, we were going to sleep and waking up to the sound of Shahed drones — living in constant fear and tension.
My husband’s brother and his family found safety in the UK almost at the beginning of the war. They supported us from afar and encouraged us to join them. In the summer of 2025, my husband travelled to the UK first. From his very first days there, he started working and looking for a way for our whole family to reunite.
That was when he applied to USPUK.
Three months later, we received a call from Valeriia — with news we hardly dared to hope for. A sponsor had been found, and our family had been selected.
From that moment on, Valeriia supported us at every step. She guided us through the process, answered all our questions, and helped us right up to one of the most important moments of our lives. Having someone explain everything clearly and stay in touch throughout made an incredibly difficult process feel manageable and human.
We received our visas very quickly — in less than a week.
And on 30 December, we were already flying to England.
We welcomed the New Year in a new home.
Without fear. Without panic.
With electricity.
And most importantly — together as a family.
For us, it truly feels like a New Year’s miracle. But now we know that behind this miracle are real people, care, and the dedicated work of a team helping Ukrainian families rebuild their lives in safety.
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At USPUK, we support not only Ukrainian families on their journey to the UK but also the generous hosts who open their homes to them. From the moment they register on our website throughout their hosting experience, we are here to help.
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