In a tale of immense courage and resilience, a Ukrainian family has recounted their terrifying 1,500-mile escape from the shell-shocked Donbas region to the safety of a quiet Devon street. Their unlikely chariot? A rented Toyota.
Olena, a mother from the besieged city of Kramatorsk, made the snap decision to flee with her two young children and niece as Russian forces advanced. With their father staying behind to defend his country, the family began a perilous journey west towards the Slovakian border.
A Perilous Journey Through Checkpoints and Conflict
The route was fraught with danger. "We saw destroyed buildings and military vehicles everywhere," Olena described. The family navigated through a landscape of conflict, passing numerous military checkpoints where their documents were scrutinised.
Their most reliable companion on the journey was the hired Toyota, a vehicle they credit for seeing them through unimaginable conditions to finally reach the relative safety of Slovakia.
Finding Sanctuary in the Southwest
Now safely housed in Exeter, thanks to the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme, the family is grappling with the trauma of their experience while trying to build a new life. The children are settling into local schools, learning English, and discovering the simple joys of a peaceful childhood.
Their story is a powerful testament to the human cost of the conflict and the extraordinary lengths families will go to for safety and freedom.
