We speak to a woman who left Ukraine and now lives in Sleaford

It's exactly a year since the start of the conflict

We speak to a woman who left Ukraine and now lives in Sleaford
Author: Andy MarshPublished 24th Feb 2023
Last updated 24th Feb 2023

A year ago today Russia invaded Ukraine starting a conflict which has seen thousands of lives lost.

Events will be taking place across the country to remember the Ukrainian people.

We've spoken to a woman who left Ukraine after the war began.

Olena Zviagolska now lives in Sleaford.

I couldn't believe it

She spoke to us about the situation in Ukraine and how she's getting on in the UK.

"Nobody could believe it - my husband woke me up around 5 o clock and then he told me the war has started."

"I could never believe it - it was such a shock."

She remembers where she used to live.

"The central street where we used to meet our friends, your favourite coffee shop or even your neighbours."

I would cry every day

"Now my husband says it's changed a lot because it is not like the city I used to live in, new people, new business and of course the situation with the military."

"He said I would cry every day,"

"On the street where you walk out when the alarm goes off everything is closed, every shop, supermarket has to be shut and it's very stressful when you close the door and see your city without anything."

Previously we never lived separately

"My husband tries to not tell me much about things, but he feels very depressed because he feels lonely."

"We've been married for 15 years and we never lived separately."

"We travelled together and lived together all the time."

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