‘We don’t feel alone’: Ukrainians in UK hopeful for a better future

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Ukrainians living in the UK do not feel alone and are hopeful for a better future as the world marks one-year anniversary of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Regardless of whether they left their country before or after the war started, Ukrainians living in London continue to help each other by keeping their hopes alive.

Speaking to Anadolu, Iryna Oselska, 46, a Ukrainian living in London, said that she is hopeful for the next year.

She said her world "completely" changed after the war started. "Even though I am based here, I feel that my heart, my soul is with Ukraine," she said.

Oselska, who is from Odesa and arrived in the UK for studies before the war started, said that Ukrainians do not feel alone due to wide support from the world.

She said that the world is now supporting Ukraine more than ever and added that the Ukrainian government is building strong relations with European and US governments.

"We don't feel alone … I would say stronger than ever that we can win and the victory is close," Oselska added.

As part of the Elmbridge CAN charity, she helps Ukrainian refugees coming to the UK to integrate.

Her 18-year-old son, Max, who was born in France, also lives in London with her mother but said he has been to Ukraine many times.

"It is a crazy moment because it's a place my mom was born and … it gets invaded. It's weird, it's not nice," he said, adding no one wants to see their homeland invaded.

- 'We will win’

Marina Tsimbal, 46, from Kyiv is another Ukrainian who had to leave the country after the beginning of the war.

Now living in the UK, Tsimbal said that she is also hopeful for the future and "Ukraine's victory."

"I am very optimistic about our victory and it cannot be otherwise. We have to win, we will win and it should finish soon," she added.

Liliya Popova, who is from Ukraine's Kharkiv region, left the country with her sister after the war began. She said that she is in the UK now to help Ukrainians here.

"I came here after the war, because, I would like to be here and be stronger, and help Ukraine."

Popova that they were very happy in Ukraine and did not want to leave the country.

"I can feel that everybody supports Ukrainians and it is not just British people … We would like to say 'thank you' everybody … we would also like to say these good words to Turkish people, to American people, (and) to everybody from Europe that they support us,” she added.

She added that they are making efforts to launch projects together with the British people to help rebuild Ukraine when the war ends.

Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.