Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, we have been collecting stories of Ukrainians who suffered from the actions of the Russian occupiers. Every day, the Russian military launches missile attacks and kills our citizens. We document the stories of Ukrainians who are forced to evacuate to different parts of Ukraine and the world, but continue to support the Motherland.
After the annexation of Crimea, Tetiana Shelepun moved with her children to the Ukraine-controlled territory and started a new life, but with the beginning of a full-scale Russian invasion, she was forced to evacuate again for the safety of her own family. Today, Tetiana is building a new life in England, where she was able to open her own business and continue to raise her children.
Tetiana Shelepun, photo from personal archive
Do you remember the day the full-scale Russian invasion began? What did you feel back then?
Every day, I woke up at 5 am. I was used to working while the children were sleeping. I lived in Bobrytsa near Kyiv. On February 24th, I woke up to a strange sound, as if a ball of steel rolled near the house. Later, I received a message from my mother in Odesa that the war had begun. I couldn’t believe it. Back then, I didn’t even have the thought of going anywhere. On the morning of the first day, I woke the children up, told them that today we were staying at home, and that the war had begun. They asked me a lot of questions, but I didn’t know what we were supposed to do next. I have three children: 14, 11 and 5 years old, who I lived in the same house with.
At that time, many had the thought, “where do I run?”. And for me, “if there is a war, there will be a famine.” I immediately got into my own car, went to the store and with all the money, maybe 5 thousand hryvnias, I started buying all the products. When I got home, I felt better because we would have something to eat. But if you look at the map of the hostilities: Bucha, Gostomel… half an hour by car to our house. For the first month, we stayed in a house which was shaking from shelling overhead.
Tetiana Shelepun with her family before the full-scale invasion, personal archive
What exactly did you feel when you realized that your life had changed completely?
I finally realized what was going on when warplanes started flying over our house. I opened the online map of the hostilities and daily monitored how far the occupiers were advancing. I did not understand what would happen next, I stopped working. This was like the life I had in Crimea six months after the annexation. I didn’t do those Russian documents as long as it was possible to stay there. I had two children back then, who I raised alone. I had everything: a business, a house, and a car. Where would I run? But I had to. And now it’s happening again. You see, I don’t believe in tales that “you come here, and we will arrange everything for you”. I thought like this: I will do everything myself, just don’t throw a spanner in my works!
From Crimea, I moved to my parents in Odesa and got married. Then I got pregnant with my third child. A year after I gave birth, my husband died. He lived in Torez, which was under occupation. I went to see him and tried to transport him to Donetsk for a health examination. But we didn’t have enough time. He was 42 years old, had a stomach ulcer. Once again, I was left alone with the children. After his death, I moved to Kyiv, where I started to arrange my life again.
Tetiana Shelepun with her family before the full-scale invasion, personal archive
What influenced your decision to evacuate from Ukraine?
First of all, I knew that all this would not end soon. Secondly, out of all the languages, I only remembered English from when I was in school. In March, I found out that a sponsor aid program had started working in England. I was tired of war and explosions. I saw how it affected my children, who couldn’t communicate with their friends. My daughter started stuttering because of the explosions. I realized that something needed to change. I wrote on social networks with a request to find a sponsor, and an hour later an English family from the town of Grassington wrote to me. We had a video chat, and 15 minutes later we started to draw up the documents. I think it was fate. I felt that they were my family, by the way, they were very similar to my parents. So it had to happen.
The evacuation route from Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, photo from personal archive
It was very difficult mentally and physically to evacuate. We had a lot of suitcases and a pet—an undocumented guinea pig. We bought a train ticket from Ukraine to Poland, where we arrived late at night before the station closed. Furthermore, we had to go to the visa center in Warsaw to submit documents. We lived in the capital of Poland for about a month, after that we took a bus through Germany to Paris, we had to stay there overnight because we were not allowed through due to problems with animal documents. But I remember my children saying, “You promised us that we would travel, and you kept your promise!” and I laughed. We walked all around the city together and saw the Eiffel Tower. The next morning we were in England. We were met by a sponsor, and when I first saw her, we ran up to each other, she hugged my children and I understood—she is a native person.
The evacuation route from Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, photo from personal archive
What difficulties did you face after the evacuation to England?
Surprisingly, at first we didn’t have any difficulties, except for the language: I never spoke English. But that wasn’t an issue. My sponsors helped me with the documents, and sometimes I used the translator on the phone. Yes, there is bureaucracy here, but everything works great. My children immediately went to school, where they adapted quickly. My older daughter got a free tablet from the school for studying. Also, when I started having health problems, they immediately found a doctor and helped me with it. I feel nothing but great gratitude to the English people!
Tetiana Shelepun with children, personal archive
Tell me, what do you do now?
I have been sewing all my life: in Crimea I had a business with separate premises. In England, I had 1,000 hryvnias in my pocket. And what, was I supposed to panic now? No, you have to keep on living! When I started looking for a job in England, I realized that I should be close to my children and develop my own business. I reported this to UniversalCredit and was registered as self-employed. I was very surprised when they gave me a laptop for work after they found out that I was planning to open my own business. I was very grateful for that.
Examples of Tetiana Shelepun’s work, hand-sewn dresses, personal archive
At home, I made several posts on Facebook about my business, and people started liking me and leaving comments. Soon, I had my first order. I was happy, I told the sponsor, and the next day we went to different stores to look for fabrics and materials. I set a price of 150 pounds (ca. 68 kg) for sewing the dress, half of which went to the material. This was my first order! Then I had girls who needed prom dresses, and then I started having new clients every week.
Advertising booklet of her own business in England, personal archive
What exactly do the changes that happened in your life after February 24 mean to you?
I feel at home now. Probably for the first time in my life. Because all my life I was striving for something, and it was taken away from me. Crimea, Kyiv… Now in England I work hard day and night, but I see the results, though. The house where I live now was almost entirely without furniture. And now I have a bed for the children, chairs, tables—all this at my own expense. I have a fridge full of food, the children are dressed and wearing new clothes. My children tell me they are happy. I go to the Catholic Church, and even now I have an order from the congregation: I sew material with embroidery for storing church silver.
What are your plans for the future?
I think I want to stay here. Next year I plan to take part in a sewing competition in London and I think I will win. After the Ukrainian visa, I am thinking of opening a “talent visa” and continuing to participate in competitions. I really want the war to end, my parents live in Ukraine.
What do you want to wish the women who are also forced to evacuate to other countries?
You have to sit down and tell yourself, “I am here now with my children, and I must keep on living”. If we are alive, we must do something: for example, if you are an accountant, but you cannot work here due to lack of qualifications, maybe you can embroider, make toys or bake cakes. You definitely know something! Don’t focus on just one thing. Look around, find this core in yourself and keep on living.
Tetiana Shelepun, photo from personal archive
Support Ukraine now!
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has been going on for over ten months. During this time, the Russian occupiers destroyed and damaged a huge number of residential buildings. Millions of Ukrainians became refugees. Many Ukrainians found themselves under occupation. People do not have access to clean drinking water, quality communication, food and a safe place to live. You can support Ukrainians in need by following this link.
Translator: Zoriana Karpenko
