Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine forced more than half a million Ukrainians to flee their homes and seek safe haven in the United States. Although most of them try to adapt to new conditions and start a new life, many do not leave the desire to return home, despite all the challenges.
“Voice of America” tells about the fate of two Ukrainian women who, despite the circumstances, dream of Ukraine. One of the heroines of the report is Victoria Nikitina, a 48-year-old designer from Dnipro, who currently lives in Seattle, Washington. During the day, Victoria does her favorite thing – painting still lifes. But in the evening, she is forced to interrupt the creative process to go to her first official job in America – cleaning a home for the elderly. Three times a week, from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., she vacuums, mops the floor, wipes surfaces, and takes out the trash.
In Dnipro, Victoria worked as an interior designer and was in great demand in her hometown. But in the eighth month of full-scale war, in October 2022, while she was walking her labrador, Biggie, near her home, a missile exploded over her head. The area where she lived was constantly shelled due to its proximity to a strategic object, and after long hesitation, Victoria made a difficult decision – to fly with Bigi to the USA, where her daughter had been living for a long time. She became a participant of the You for You program. The first months on American soil were a real test for Victoria, and she found herself in a deep depression. Victoria says that she is physically in America, but her soul remained in Ukraine, where her friends and work remained.
Psychologists warn that forced resettlement can become a deep psychological trauma. Losses and feelings of isolation affect the psyche the most. Psychologist Skip Rizzo explains:
“It wasn’t a choice. Most people run for their lives. Many people with PTSD feel guilty. They ask themselves why they survived when their friends or relatives died.”
The second heroine of the report is Iryna Trygidko from Irpen. She also flew to Washington with her four children and husband through the You for You program. At first, she thought that she had only come for a month to rest with her sister. “But when I was in Washington, I felt complete safety for myself and my children. I stayed with my children, but my husband did not want to and returned to Ukraine on business.” – says Iryna.
Iryna admits that she fell in love with Washington State for the sense of security and freedom she found there. Currently, she lives in the house of her sister, who became a sponsor and fully provides for her family. Officially, Iryna does not work, but she helps her friends as a hairdresser when the children are at school.
Psychologists warn that homesickness may appear later, when a woman begins to think more about her own needs. Currently, Iryna feels responsible for her children, and this helps her to hold on. However, in the future, nostalgia for the native country may arise, and the woman may want to return home.
It should be noted that the USA does not have a special program for refugees, as in Switzerland or Germany. Victoria and Iryna can only receive cash assistance from the state as low-income citizens and food cards. The Ukrainian community, with which they found a common language, became an important social circle for them. They actively participate in the life of the community, conduct classes in art camps and a Ukrainian-language school, which helps them feel useful and in demand.
