How Derbyshire’s Ukrainian refugees have embraced British culture and even joined the National Trust!
BUT THEY ARE NOT SO KEEN ON OUR ROUNDABOUTS
A UKRAINIAN family have expressed their gratitude for their new life in Derbyshire after fleeing across Europe from Russian shells.
Yuliia Kravchenko, 28, a factory machinist, her daughter Sofiia, four, and Yuliia’s mum Larysa, 47, a housekeeper, left their home city of Kharkiv in March and were the first to join the Orange family in Riddings on May 7.
Larysa’s sister Olena Tishchyshyna, 45, her twin boys, Dymtro and Vladyslav, seven, and Olga Zapara, 40, another sister, as well as two Yorkshire terriers and a cat, arrived in Derbyshire later and are now living with Louise Orange, 43, a school business manager from Riddings, her husband Jon, 44, and their two daughters, Evelyn, 12, and Alice, seven.
Beforehand the desperate family had all been stuck in one room of a hostel in Prague for weeks on end whilst awaiting travel to the UK.
The Orange family criticised the Home Office in April for the length of time it took to process their visa applications.
Yuliia was at work with her daughter when the shelling of Kharkiv by Russian troops began on February 24. Upon hearing the air raid siren, she grabbed what she could and ran. The family’s house has since been destroyed.
Yuliia said: “It was very scary to leave. We unfortunately have nowhere to return to. If we manage to stay here we would be happy.”
Despite having to use an app to translate what each other is saying, the Oranges and their new friends have become inseparable.
Yuliia said: “It’s really good living here in the house with Louisa and her family. We’re very grateful to our guardian angels for our new happy life. They have become so dear to us.”
Louise said: “You have your home here for as long as you need it.”
Now the family are settling into their new lives in Derbyshire, getting used to the local customs and sampling all that the county has to offer.
They says that local people are kind and the initially unfamiliar area already feels like home.
Recent experiences have included a hike up Mam Tor mountain near
Fragments of military equipment on the street, the aftermath of a Russian strike in Kharkiv on February 24
Castleton in the Peak District, with many similar days out to come after purchasing a National Trust membership.
Olga, who has found work in the Denby factory nearby, said she loves the views. They also like British culture and say they have an added sense of freedom in the UK.
Yuliia said: “We haven’t had a chance to find out much yet, but what we know is completely different to our custom.
“We have more rules and laws. In your country people are more free style in their clothing and general appearance.
“I’m delighted by how British people look. The tattoos and piercings drive me crazy. There are also no
We’re very grateful to our guardian angels for our new happy life. They have become so dear to us
Yuliia Kravchenko high fences and no armoured doors here.”
Larysa said: “I like it here. There are very kind and responsive people.”
Olena said: “Everything is very compact and there are very kind people. It’s a beautiful area with many children and very good relationships. It’s very nice to see that a foreign country treats you like this, you don’t feel the difference.”
Olga, whose phone now sports a Union Flag case, said: “I really like England. There are kind people, understanding and patient. They know that we don’t know the language.”
Their opinion of British food however, is more mixed. Yuliia said, after a long pause: “I really miss Ukrainian lard and herring. But I love Yorkshire puddings, very tasty.”
After sampling their first roast dinner, the Oranges’ Ukrainian guests prepared for them traditional dumplings, pancakes and borscht – a soup.
Although, one thing Riddings’s newest residents have struggled to adapt to is driving on completely different roads with huge roundabouts.
Olena, who now works at the local Travelodge, said: “I really struggle with the driving.
“I’m used to right-hand traffic. I once found myself somehow on the opposite lane, but drivers didn’t begin to honk. One man explained by pointing with his hand.
“I really like the fact that drivers are very careful. They will understand any situation. But I can’t read the road signs and the big roundabouts are different.
“To the great horror of my eyes I once went round in circles like a headless horseman.”
Olga put it more bluntly. She said: “Cars drive incorrectly.”
She also found herself accidently heading the wrong way on a bus to work one morning. Louise kindly walked her through her route afterwards.
The children in the two families have grown close despite not sharing a language. They talk to each other nonetheless and communicate with gestures.
Louise said: “They don’t understand each other’s words, but they play and hang out with each other.
“The first morning they were all here, they were looking for new possessions. It was heartbreaking. They wanted to go to an English car boot, so we took them to the one in Tansley the very first morning.
“We also got loads of donations from the local community, some they simply didn’t need. We sold those on and we made £100.
“My husband John is outnumbered by ladies now, but watches football with Dymtro and Vladyslav , teaching them a bit of football English.
“We really are very lucky. We’re all family now. It’s absolutely wonderful. We have lots of hugs and laughter.”