By Oisín Duddy

 A group of 17 Ukrainian refugees who fled war in their homeland say that they are thankful for the welcome they have received in Derry.

As they settle into the north west, the group is learning new skills, adopting to a new culture and studying English at NWRC. Three of the group have spoken about their lives before the war.

Olha, from Mariupol was a gym instructor. Now living in Dungiven, she is keen to return to her home as soon as the situation permits to be with her boyfriend.

Olha’s fellow country woman Tataina, from Kyiv used to work in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. An activist in her home city, she recalls taking part in the Euromaidan protests in 2014. Tataina believes the way forward for Ukraine after the war is to look west and join the European Union.

Back home, Tataina’s husband is awaiting call-up to the Ukrainian military. Already on a draft, she expects he will eventually be asked to join the war effort.

Dina from Kharkiv’s former profession could not be further from her new life in Derry. A professor of Latin, she was teaching medical students the now dead language. Dina had to leave her village due to its proximity to Russian border. She recalled the horror of the first attacks of the war, leaving her no choice but to flee. She is now working for a charity called Foyle Friends of Ukraine

Since coming to Derry, all three women have been impressed with the way they have been embraced by the people of the north west. However, after leaving the war in their own country, they are struggling to understand the divisiveness of the politics in Northern Ireland.

Despite the trauma of all they’ve been through, the three strong and resilient women are adamant that they will return “home” to the country that they love as soon as the war allows.

In the meantime, they’re happy to experience Irish life, the food, the music and even the weather.