Ukrainian refugees welcomed

to safety in South Molton - story by Peter Robinson (pages 18 - 22)

“This is a very beautiful, picturesque place. This is where the wounds heal.” These are the words of Olena Subocheva, a refugee from the brutal war in Ukraine, speaking about how she feels now that she and her mother are being looked after by a family in South Molton.

For 82 days they had lived under shelling and bombing in Zaporozhye (also spelled Zaporizhzhia), a previously peaceful city in the south of Ukraine on the border of the Donbas region, where the full force of the Russian invasion is being felt (see map page 20). 82 days sheltering in a basement at night, emerging by day to tend the terrible wounds of those injured.

“It was very hard mentally. Soldiers without limbs, their bodies mutilated, constant air raids and explosions,” said Olena Subocheva, aged 46, who worked in a hospital treating Ukrainian troops. “It was very tense, everything escalated daily, the explosions were very close and my mother pleaded with me every day to leave our beloved Ukraine.”

“This is a very beautiful, picturesque place. This is where the wounds heal.”

Olena and Tamara at the railway station in Lviv

She read online about the UK Government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme and placed an advert on a Facebook group, there she eventually made contact with Tricia and Wayne Hyde in South Molton, who offered to become their hosts.

All smiles - (left to right) Wayne, Olena, Tamara and Tricia out in South Molton

But Olena and her 70 year old mother Tamara, had to wait while the war raged around them because the city railway station was closed, and they couldn’t get seats on evacuation buses.

Weeks went by before they were eventually able to make the 26 hour train journey to Lviv in the west of Ukraine, but here too the Russians were shelling.

Volunteers put them on a bus which took them to the border with Poland where they had to cross on foot. From here they were taken late at night to Przemysl station, it would be another six hours before they could board a train to the capital Krakow at 4am.

“It was very hard mentally. Soldiers without limbs, their bodies mutilated, constant air raids and explosions.”

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Ministry of Defence map from July 14th, showing Zaporozhye/Zaporizhzhia and the main battle area including the nearby nuclear power plant The refugee centre was full so they found a hostel with the last of their money, before walking 12 kilometres to the airport the next day. “We cried because if was so calm and quiet in Poland,” said Olena. Because they had run out of money, they had to spend the next night in the departures hall before flying to Bristol. Six days after leaving their home, they arrived exhausted in England.

Tricia and Wayne Hyde, who have run South Molton Taxis since 1979, welcomed them with “open hearts”.

“It is very valuable for us to be here in peace and tranquility, away from the blows of war. It’s so nice when you sleep peacefully and wake up like in a fairy tale with birds singing,” Olena Subocheva told Molton Monthly. “We will never forget this - huge thanks to Tricia and Wayne, thanks to the people of Great Britain and the government, for our peaceful life here in England!”

“We would very much like the war to end as soon as possible, because people are dying including our relatives and friends, it is very painful. We will return when the war ends, we love Ukraine very much, we were very happy before the war, but now it feels like there is no former life!”

“I simply cannot convey this grief of loss, how can this be in the 21st century?”

Olena now hopes she will be able to use her experience to help other Ukrainian refugees to settle in the UK, and is working hard to improve her English.

Tricia explains why her family wanted to get involved, “We simply wanted to do something to help the awful situation in Ukraine, to help the many innocent people having to flee their homes. I could feel an instant connection with Olena and wanted to help her and her mother Tamara seek refuge here in Devon, so we tried everything in our power to make it happen.”

Ukrainian army fires Western supplied missiles from a mobile launcher outside Zaporozhye in July, photo Armed Forces of Ukraine

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“At times, we didn’t think they would even arrive in the UK,” said Tricia. “From train tracks being obliterated, to cities on their route coming under attack - I felt such a relief when Olena and Tamara arrived at our home here in South Molton.”

She revealed that the North Devon community has rallied around to help, including charities, community groups, churches, local shops and the South Molton food bank, with many donating much needed items of clothing as they left home with very little.

“I feel lucky that we have found each other, and most days we cook together, eat, chat, garden and walk our dog Tray, whom they’ve fondly adopted as their own!” added Tricia. “The whole family has been involved in welcoming them to the country and into our lives, from our children, to grandchildren, nieces, nephews and our taxi team.”

“It’s been an education for us all, and a lesson to the grandchildren in helping those less fortunate than ourselves, and the devasting effects of modern war. Sometimes we laugh, some days we cry. We’re grateful for the time we can spend together, living each day as it comes.”

Tricia and Wayne Hyde urge people to “smile and say hello” if they see them around the area and asked other host families to reach out to them. They have also offered their home to Olena’s father and son who have remained behind in Ukraine. “It hasn’t been plain sailing, but I would strongly urge you to do the same and help out a family in need,” said Tricia. “We love life, please let there be peace on Earth!”

Tamara, Tricia and Olena relaxing in South Molton

Olena said, “I simply cannot convey this grief of loss, how can this be the 21st century? I really hope that the war will end soon, but for now our life goes on here in this lovely old town with the people of South Molton.”

“We love life in all its manifestations, please let there be peace on Earth!”