EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian refugee "astonished" by Scottish generosity
A Ukrainian refugee who was taken in by a family in Edinburgh, after meeting in a Facebook group, has told us how "astonished" she has been by Scottish generosity
Last updated 11th May 2022
A Ukraine refugee, who has recently arrived in Edinburgh, is exclusively telling Tay FM that she's been "astonished" by the generosity of the Scottish people.
23-year-old Yuliia evacuated from Chernihiv in the north of Ukraine with her parents.
But three weeks ago she had to make the difficult decision to leave her homeland, with her parents staying behind.
She initially travelled to Poland, and then to Paris. But it's in Scotland where Yuliia says she has experienced the most kindness.
"fingers crossed, maybe one person will reply"
Her Mother had posted a message to a Facebook group where refugees could find families in the UK.
"When we posted that I was like, oh, fingers crossed, maybe one person will reply." Yuliia told us.
"But in reality, I got like more than 100 replies. Yeah, I was astonished, like with the UK people, and how many of them want to help and how supportive they are.
"I'm very grateful this, for trying to like to step in our shoes and understand what we're going through."
Eventually Yuliia decided to fly to Edinburgh and move in with Edinburgh woman Courtnay McLeod and her family.
Although she admits the process of applying for her visa was complicated and difficult, meaning it wasn't until three weeks ago she finally made the flight.
On arrival to Scotland Yuliia tells us she instantly felt welcome.
"In France. It was like nothing and it didn't feel anything but here it felt like people care.
"Like the woman who was taking my documents, She she was very nice, and she brought me some copies in Ukrainian with numbers like some Ukrainian clubs, church, psychological help, like a lot of information."
"it doesn't feel like something very distant because it's my homeland"
For Yuliia she still hopes that one day she can return back to her home country.
She admits that it's difficult being so far away from her friends and family, and seeing what is happening back home.
She said:
"I'm not very emotional. But constantly, I was constantly reading news. And it started to take a toll on me because I was feeling physically bad. And I stopped doing that.
"Obviously I'm safe and I feel safe, but still I know I'm very far, I got as far as I could from Ukraine, whilst still being in Europe.
"Still it doesn't feel like something very distant because it's my homeland and I communicate with my friends and family and still it's something that's going on right now and it's horrible."