Iryna and Valentyn: Finding Safety and Hope Far From Home
At just 23 and 24 years old, Iryna and Valentyn have already lived through experiences that changed their lives forever. Their story is one of uncertainty, resilience and the courage to take a chance on a new beginning.
“A chance we almost didn’t believe in”, - Iryna
Iryna and Valentyn’s Story, in their own words:
Our story began in the summer, when we applied for sponsorship through USPUK. To be honest, we did not have high expectations of receiving a response or seeing a real outcome. It felt more like a small chance - one we decided to take, hoping it might lead somewhere.
Both of us had been serving in the military since 2023. At the time of submitting the application, my husband was still in active service, while I had already been discharged for about six months. I have a registered disability and because of my health condition and the uncertainty surrounding our future, we hesitated for a long time about whether we should move abroad. We did not know what awaited us in another country, how everyday life would look, or whether we would be able to adapt.
At that time, we were living in Kyiv, close to the hospital where we were receiving treatment. However, Kyiv was regularly under missile attacks and living under constant threat was emotionally and physically exhausting.
In October, we were contacted by Nadiia (USPUK Ukraine team). At first, we could hardly believe that this was really happening and that our application had received a genuine response. From the first phone call to submitting our visa documents, the process took about a week. Everything moved quickly, clearly and with a great sense of support. We waited approximately two weeks for our visas.
We were already preparing to leave when an unexpected event occurred. There was a missile strike near the apartment we were renting, and all the windows were blown out. Because of this, our journey had to be postponed, and we were only able to leave about a month later.
The journey itself was difficult, but we eventually made it. We were met by our sponsors and the welcome was incredibly warm and humane. We arrived just before New Year, during the festive period. Despite having many family commitments of their own, they welcomed us immediately and made us feel like part of their family.
They supported us in adapting to life in the UK, helped us understand everyday routines and even took us to London, which became a particularly meaningful and uplifting moment for us.
We are often asked why we chose England. This country holds special meaning for us, as it is where our family truly began. In 2023, we travelled to England together for military training and that was where our shared journey started.
We found common ground with our sponsors very quickly. We have now been living here for a month and a half, and daily life has been going well. Our home is built on mutual respect and understanding.
Looking back, we can say with confidence that despite all our doubts and fears, deciding to come here was the right choice. Everything worked out, and we felt genuine support at a time when we needed it most.
After everything we have been through, this support has been truly invaluable. We are deeply grateful to USPUK, especially to Nadiia, for her guidance, humanity, and belief in us, as well as to our sponsors for their warmth, openness and sincere desire to help. This support has given us a sense of safety and hope for a peaceful future 💛💙
If you'd like to help more families like this one, please consider supporting us at uspuk.org/donate
You can make a difference
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.
If you’d like to help someone on their journey to a new beginning, consider becoming a host today. Visit our Become a Host page to learn more.