Ukrainian guests have spoken about their four years of living in Alton to mark Ukraine Independence Day.
It was on August 24, 1991, that Ukraine’s parliament approved independence from the USSR after a national vote.
Millions fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. Since then 235 East Hampshire residents have welcomed Ukrainian guests through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, many hosting multiple families. Many Ukrainians have now settled in East Hampshire, finding work and moving into their own homes.
One of those guests is Olena Konovalova, from Kharkiv.
Olena said: “My most unforgettable memories are of the welcome I received from the Gladstone family in 2022. They opened not only the doors to their beautiful home but also their kind hearts to me.
“Everything was new to me - a different country, a different language and a different mindset. Yet Victoria and Xen settled me into their hospitable home with great care and thoughtfulness.”
Fighting in Ukraine continues but Olena feels the commitment of those looking after guests does too.
She said: “Four years have passed since then, and every British person I have encountered - such as Maxine Anderson, Tony Souter and Richard Millar - has been a wonderful individual, always eager to offer help and support.
“East Hampshire District Council has consistently assisted me with any issues or questions regarding housing and daily life. I am especially grateful to Gemma Vale and Yulia Tsimbal.”
However, the desire to go back to her roots is strong for Olena.
She concluded: “As soon as this terrible war ends, I will return home to Ukraine.”
Michael, also from Kharkiv, agreed with Olena that Ukrainian guests were being well supported in Alton.
He said: “The residents, and everyone we meet, have been very welcoming and friendly towards us. We really feel that people treat us with kindness and accept us as part of the community. We also take part in many PTFA events and really enjoy being involved in the local community.
“The council also provides support in many different areas for people who need it. For our family, one valuable initiative this summer was allowing Ukrainian children to access the HAF programme. This meant we could arrange summer camps for our children throughout August.
“We were also given a 50 per cent reduction in council tax for several months. I thought this was a fair and very helpful decision, although unfortunately this support has now ended.”
It is 1,838 miles from Kharkiv near the Russian border to Alton in deepest East Hampshire, but Michael and his family are adapting to their dramatic westward shift across continental Europe to Britain.
He said: “Of course, at first it felt quite unfamiliar because of the differences between life here and life in Europe, or in the Ukraine we knew before the war.
“But we have gradually got used to life here - including the weather, food, queues, prices and taxes!
“The one thing that is still a real concern is the high cost of housing. The rent feels like a constant pressure. Back home, we owned our flat, so we had more financial security - losing a job or becoming ill would not have felt quite so catastrophic.
“And there is still one thing I find difficult: understanding British people when they are talking to each other, even though we continue to work on our English!”
Michael is not as definite as Olena when it comes to going back to Ukraine after the war.
He said: “We regularly ask ourselves this question. But the longer we live here, the less certain we feel about returning.
“We can feel the mental distance growing between us and the people who have stayed in Ukraine. This is despite the fact that we still follow the news closely, try to volunteer and support Ukraine, and stay actively involved in what is happening there.
“For our children, who are six and 10, this is even more complicated. They have already spent more than half of their conscious lives here. All of their real, everyday friendships are here. At the same time, they may no longer feel fully at home among Ukrainian children either.
“At the same time, what worries us most is that our family cannot make plans beyond 2028, which is the current limit of our visa. We work, pay our taxes and cover all the usual costs of living here, like everyone else. But the future of our family here depends on whether the Homes for Ukraine scheme is extended.”
Anna, from Mykolaiv, is another Ukrainian guest being hosted in Alton.
She said: “I am very grateful for all the support I have received from East Hampshire District Council and local residents. Whenever I have needed help or advice, people have been kind, understanding and willing to support me.
“I have never felt that I was left without help. I really appreciate everything that the council and the local community have done for Ukrainians.”
Living in the UK has been a positive experience for Anna.
She said: “I really enjoy my life in Britain. From the beginning, I have experienced a lot of kindness and support from British people, and I really appreciate the friendly and welcoming atmosphere here.
“Over time, I have become settled into life in the UK. I am studying at university, I am working, and I have made English friends and built a life here. I feel very comfortable and happy in my local community.”
Like Michael, Anna feels too much may have changed for her to go back to her homeland.
She said: “Of course, Ukraine will always be my home and will always have a very special place in my heart. But at the moment, I do not see myself returning to live there. My city has been badly affected by the war, I lost my job, and rebuilding a normal life there would take a lot of time and effort.
“I have now built a new life in Britain. I am studying at university, working and becoming part of the local community, so in the future I would very much like to remain in the UK and continue building my life here. I am very grateful that Britain gave me the opportunity to feel safe, supported and able to move forward.”
East Hampshire District Council chairwoman Cllr Penny Flux said: “When East Hampshire residents were asked to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees, many of them did so wholeheartedly - welcoming people who had been through terrible ordeals to get to our country.
“I am immensely proud of the district’s residents and all the people who have pulled together to help support our Ukrainian guests.
“East Hampshire District Council has also been supporting guests and their hosts so that Ukrainians can establish themselves in the area and integrate into the community.
“I hope that one day, Ukraine will be free, but until then, we’ll continue to support our guests in every way we can.”
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