Yahoo News Woman moved to Liverpool after both of her businesses were bombed
A woman has settled in Liverpool since leaving her war-torn country after both of her businesses were bombed.
Ukrainian Tamila Shcherban woke in the night to what she thought was a car accident. Her neighbours had knocked on her door and much to her surprise, they told her war had started with Russia.
The current conflict between the two nations had its roots in 2014 when Ukraine deposed its pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych. Vladimir Putin’s Russia responded by annexing the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and supporting separatist forces, who then claimed large parts of eastern Ukraine.
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As a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war, two of Tamila's businesses - a travel agency and a furniture store - were bombed, leaving her with nothing.
The 38-year-old told the ECHO: “The building and the businesses were totally destroyed by Russian missiles. It was the second time it happened to me since 2014. I’m all alone in Liverpool. It’s terrible and I miss my parents every second. I have been trying to go back to Ukraine as often as I can because it is very complicated mentally to be here without any friends or family.”
Since then, Tamila has had no other option but to make a new life for herself in Liverpool but it hasn’t come without its challenges.
Tamila, now living in Kensington, said: “It’s very difficult and there have been lots of issues for me. It’s a different culture and circumstances and because of this I feel discriminated against. From my accent, people can tell I am a ‘foreigner’ and not a local and sometimes, I feel people are bullying and laughing at me.
“When I was lost I asked a group of teenagers for directions and where to go and they sent me the total different way and laughed at me.”
When Tamila first came to the UK, she lived in North Wales. However, after struggling to find any career opportunities or study, she moved to Liverpool in the autumn of 2022.
The steward event manager left behind her parents in Ukraine, both in their 70s, and she has yet to be able to find a sponsor or host family to bring them here to the UK.
Tamila hopes to be reunited with her family for good in the near future but realises this is unlikely to happen as the war rages on and casualties reach 450,000, according to the UK Defence Journal.
With this in mind, Tamila has been trying to make the best out of her situation and has been retraining as a community interpreter.
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