A Ukrainian Nottingham Trent University student has expressed her worry following Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, February 24, almost 400,000 people have fled the country, according to the UN refugee agency.
However, despite Putin’s ‘special operation’, countless other Ukrainian nationals, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have decided to stay and defend their country against the largest conventional military attack that has been seen since World War II, according to a senior US defence official.
This is why millions of #Ukraine civilians have been in bomb shelters for days — #Russia is indiscriminately shelling built-up residential areas, like here in #Kharkiv: pic.twitter.com/XxagX8bypt
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) February 28, 2022
Kasia Litowczuk is an NTU second-year Biomedical Science student who was born and raised in Poland but has deep roots over the border, in Ukraine.
Her Ukrainian parents moved from Western Ukraine before she was born in 2001, to Poland, where her mother, sister, brother, and grandmother still live.
Part of Kasia’s family is, however, still in Ukraine, just four hours away from Donetsk, where fierce attacks are currently taking place.
“They are all terrified.
“My auntie, my grandma’s sister, wanted to leave for Poland to stay there with my grandmother but boys and men aged between 18 and 60 aren’t allowed to leave the country.
“Her son is over 18 and her husband is under 60 and she understandably doesn’t want to leave without them.
“My grandfather and his wife are also very scared.
“People fear going out of the house even to just get food,” said the student.
Kasia revealed that she is very worried for her family and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has birthed a new kind of anxiety and stress that she has never felt before.
She added that, although she and her family were expecting something to happen, they never anticipated the scale of the events that have been tormenting the Ukrainian land for the past six days.
“When it all kicked off on February 24, I think that was one of the worst days of my life.
“I was very anxious, I didn’t know what to do, which was the worst part.
“I was just on the phone with my mum and she was telling me how scared she is for her father and we were both just crying.
“I also spoke to my dad who now lives in London but he and my step mum are also worried because she has her family in Ukraine.”
Kasia, from Przemyśl, moved to Nottingham last year for university and, while she is enjoying her life here, she wishes she was back in Eastern Europe at the moment to help her family and friends, as well as refugees seeking shelter or just something to eat.
However, seeing her friends and family help Ukrainian refugees is giving her hope.
Her family in Przemyśl, Poland is sheltering two people at the moment, her mother’s best friend from Ukraine and her 12-year-old son.
“The boy is so scared because he is only 12.
“Even though my 10-year-old brother is not fluent in Ukrainian and my mum’s friend’s son is not fluent in Polish, they still get along, they play video games, hang out together.
“They’re still kids and it’s warming my heart.
“I’m very happy that my family can help them.”
Kasia’s family in Poland has also made multiple donations, including hygienic products and food.
“People have really come together to help because the mayor of Przemyśl has asked people to stop donating food for a couple of days because there’s too much at the moment and they have no place to store it.
“My sister who is 14 has also donated some of her and mines clothes.”
Many people have, however, chosen to stay in Ukraine, including her grandfather and his wife who live in Ivano-Frankivsk, because of their patriotism and endless love for their country.
“They decided to stay and help as much as they can, even though the airport in Ivano-Frankivsk has been bombed.
“They hear sirens all the time.
“My mum was talking to my grandpa’s wife and she said she is very scared and that all the feelings she’s going through right now are starting to become overwhelming,” said the 20-year-old student.
The couple is also sheltering people from Kharkiv, a city in Eastern Ukraine, who were planning to go to Poland, after they have turned their summer school building into a shelter for refugees.
Kasia thinks Ukraine’s patriotism is playing a vital role and that “given how much Ukrainians love their country, it’s impossible for them to lose this battle”.
Amid numerous support acts and statements from various institutions and organisations around the world, Nottingham Trent University has also announced that it is supporting its Ukrainian and Russian students and staff.
A statement from NTU says: “We have been reflecting over the weekend about the most appropriate and supportive response that we could make to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Our first priority over the course of the last few days has been to reach out to those students and colleagues from Ukraine and Russia to offer them any help we could at what must be a disturbing time.
“We are also ensuring those of our community who are from Ukraine access, where necessary, the new visa arrangements now available to enable them to stay in the UK.
“All of us are concerned at unfolding events and we recognise that these may have significant practical and emotional impact.
“If you want to seek personal support, please contact our Student Support team.”
Nottingham Trent Students’ Union added: “Nottingham Trent Students’ Union stands with our members and colleagues impacted by the current crisis in Ukraine.
“The threat that the conflict presents to the safety, security, democracy and human rights of the people of Ukraine cannot be understated.
“We stand with the people of Ukraine and allies across the globe who condemn the violence and seek peace.
“There must always be respect for each other and a willingness to engage in peaceful dialogue.
“NTU and NTSU do not tolerate hate, and we’re here to support any student who may be impacted by current events via our hate crime reporting service.
“NTSU is in regular conversation with NTU regarding the situation to ensure every affected student is supported.
“Anyone who needs support can reach out to NTU’s Support Services and our Information and Advice Service.
“We are with every one of our friends, family members, and others with ties to our community.”
A Go Fund Me page has raised over £1.3m which will go towards the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB).
You can help by making a donation at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpukraine.
Lead image: Mateusz Gasinski