"Pieces of Another Picture": Kateryna's Story of Lost Dreams, a Fateful Meeting with a British Family, and a New Life in London.
On the eve of February 24, 2022, Kateryna could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Behind her were three intense days of final preparations for the move to her own, much-desired apartment in Irpin. Ahead lay a longed-for morning without a five o'clock wake-up call. On the evening of the 23rd, she successfully held an important work meeting where the team, seemingly not in earnest, developed a "business contingency plan... just in case, if a war starts." But everyone reassured each other: "We've written the plan, but don't worry, everything should be fine." Kateryna went to bed with a sense of relief, imagining the new chapter of her life that was about to begin.
A Pink Sky and a Few Minutes to Decide
The peace was shattered at 5:20 AM. "I wake up from the sound of an explosion because one of the strategically important airfields is in my hometown, and they started bombing it first," she recalls. At first, there was hope it was just a fire, but the next explosion dispelled all doubts. "I can see a pink, like, an explosion... a pink flash."
Anxiety grew. Calls to her father, her brother who works for the State Emergency Service — both were in Kyiv. First uncertainty, and then the verdict: "Literally five minutes later he calls back and says that Katia has 24 hours to leave the country altogether."
The decision was made instantly; everything that followed was on autopilot: “My mum made the strong decision to stay with my dad and brother. She persuaded me to leave the country.” A friend was already packing her suitcase. Kateryna had half an hour to get to the train to Kyiv. Her belongings were in three different locations, and with her, she only had heels and a festive outfit for her friend's son's birthday party — Artem was turning one on February 24th. "In a situation like this, people leave in something more practical. And all I have is a white tracksuit, a light-coloured winter coat, and white boots." The trip to Kyiv turned into an ordeal. In her city, people were getting off the train, while she was heading to the capital, against the current: "Mum, most people are getting off here. I’m sort of going the other way... Few people are going to Kyiv."
When something flew loudly over her friend's building, there were no doubts left. Kateryna closed her laptop: "Ira, we're going to the metro." Seven hours in the underground dragged on endlessly. Around them, people were setting up beds. "And you just feel a chill down your spine, and you're like… in this atmosphere... I don't know how long I can last, not knowing when we can get out." Her brother shouted into the phone: "What are you doing, what train are you planning to take, where are we going to look for you later, in what field? Stay in the underground and wait for my further instructions." The tension reached its limit: "I just realize that from the cold and stress, tears start to flow. Then I tell my family: give me 5 minutes to be in silence and decide for myself what I do next." And she made her choice — to go with her friend: “And so we continued, side by side, being a support for each other, through the first years of the war. A priceless experience for which I will always be grateful to her.”
A British Family and a Cure for Nostalgia
After a few months in Europe, where the girls were staying as tourists, Kateryna and her friend realised that their 3-month visa-free period was coming to an end, and they soon found themselves in England under the "Homes for Ukraine" scheme. Their destiny was sealed with the very first family that responded to their request: "We both had an inner feeling that this was 'our family.' And so it was."
"It was an incredibly warm welcome. Sarah and Joe really wanted to help us. They have a large, friendly family, to whom they introduced us immediately," Kateryna recalls. "The British family became a real salvation for us. Wrapped in family comfort, we became an integral part of a large, friendly family, attending all the family holidays. It became a mission for our hosts to show that 'England is not just about London.'" Thanks to them, Kateryna saw a traditional, cosy country she hadn't known before. This family became her rock: "They supported me so much in all my endeavours. You want that — great, well done... whatever happens, we'll be happy to have you in our home." Even now, living separately, she keeps in touch with them, calling them her "second British family." "The word that best describes my feelings is gratitude. They were a huge support for my friend and me at the most needed time. I so want to show them Ukraine with all our Ukrainian hospitality as soon as possible.”
Life on Pause and a Connection to the Past
But even in warmth and safety, Kateryna lived with the feeling that her life was on pause. A longing for her happy past life — where her family and friends were, a successful career and a beloved team, the dream move to her own home — a heap of plans and dreams connected to Ukraine. Then all her inner supports began to crumble: "My main mistake was that I was trying to take that beautiful life I had in Ukraine, with that experience, with that worldview, and most importantly, that mindset... and transfer it to this new reality. And I tried so desperately to fit those puzzle pieces here, but the picture just wouldn't come together, until I realised that those pieces were not from this picture, and I had to find new ones that would fit the new realities.”
I remember that at the beginning, I even forced myself to go to events, to see the cultural sights of England, trying to restore my previous energy level. However, everything was in a fog: "You go to London, you look at Big Ben, and you don't feel much of anything." Now I clearly understand that I just needed to give myself time.
During this difficult period, the thread connecting her to the past was the support of a close person with whom the relationship had ended before the war: "We were no longer in a romantic relationship before the full-scale invasion," she clarifies. "This is long past being about romance, it's something deeper, when you become truly close, kindred people. Despite our paths diverging, I am very glad that we managed to maintain a warm attitude towards each other and, most importantly, respect."
"Who Am I Without a Job?": A Fall and a New Start
The turning point was losing her job. After a successful career in Ukraine, and a beloved team, Kateryna found herself in a situation where it took her almost half a year to find a new job, after sending out over 500 CVs: "To be honest, this situation really knocked me down. I'm not used to being without a job at all." One of her main pillars — self-realisation — had collapsed. This forced her to face her fears: "Okay, so what does that mean, who am I without a job, what defines me as a person?"
It was this fall that became the beginning of her rebirth. Having found a job in a British company, she heard the words that defined her new role: "We hired you to shake up the team, based on your experience," later adding, "you are not like anyone else."
A New Home in London: Rent, Neighbours, and the Rhythm of the City
After living with her British family for almost two and a half years, Kateryna realised it was time to move on. "I need to get out of this life that I've put on pause and back into my more usual routine." She started looking for a place to live in London. The apartment search became a new culture shock: "Here, people might live... in a shared house even until they're 37-40. Sharing a flat with several people was definitely not an option for me, and renting on my own in London is 'quite costly,' so the decision was made to look for a flatmate." The main criterion was not the location, but the person: "Your mental health has to come first... you need good conditions and a person you'll be comfortable with."
She found the ideal flatmate — a conscious girl from Ukraine. Moving to London brought back her energy: "The rhythm of a big city energises me more. Of course, from time to time, I can get tired... and it's important to take a break in time to recover."
Open to the Future and a New Mission
Today, Kateryna is different. She has gone through a profound transformation, hitting rock bottom only to push off and rebuild herself anew. She no longer sets rigid frameworks for herself, neither in her career nor in her personal life: "The most important thing is to find your person and a pursuit that brings you pleasure."
Gradually, Kateryna realised her new mission. A colleague's words, "Kateryna, you demystify all of the stereotypes about Ukrainians and Eastern Europeans," helped her find a new meaning: "Every Ukrainian abroad has one very significant function - with our example, we show our country to the whole world."
She has accepted her present, although she hasn't changed her mind that Ukraine is the best place on earth. However, her attitude towards her forced move has changed: "For me now, England is a true friend who extended a hand when help was needed." Her story is not just a tale of escaping war. It is a story of how, having lost everything that defined you, you can find new foundations and a new, stronger version of yourself.
