Teenage Ukrainian refugees optimistic about their future in ‘happy’ Sydney

Teenage Ukrainian refugees say they are optimistic about their future in “happy” Sydney, but are deeply worried about their fathers and brothers left to defend their country.

Teenage Ukrainian refugees are optimistic about their future in “happy” Sydney after fleeing their war-torn country.

But while more than 20 Ukrainian teen refugees have found friends in each other in Sydney, they are still deeply worried about their fathers and brothers left to defend their country from Russian forces.

Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 65 are not allowed to leave the country because they may need to be called in for military service. More than 4000 civilians have died in the war, including 200 children and 3000 Ukrainian soldiers since Russia invaded on February 24.

For 14-year-old Sofia Shamanskaya, it’s the second time she has had to leave her home to escape the war.

“I was born in Donetsk in the southern corner of Ukraine. When the first war started in 2014, I moved to Kyiv and I lived in Kyiv for eight years,” the Abbotsleigh student said.

Ukrainian refugee teenagers Nika Kovalneko 14, Daniel Onofrechuk 19, Anhelina Shevchuk 14, Ruslan Hrunda 16 and Sofia Shamanskaya 14, are finding new friends at the Ukrainian Youth Association in Lidcombe. Picture: Tim Hunter.

When Russia invaded again, Sofia and her mother escaped once more, travelling 15,000km to Sydney.

“I am very worried because I have family in Ukraine, my father and my brother and my friends. I don’t know the situation, I don’t know what will be tomorrow,” she said.

“I am not sure what will be of my country, will my country even exist? I think I will stay here, I am already an Aussie, I love this country.”

She said Australia was a “very different country” to Ukraine.

“Australians are smiling everywhere, always and it is not strange to say ‘hi’ to someone while you are walking,” she said.

“In Ukraine if you smiled at someone you don’t know, it is very strange. Everyone in this country is so happy.”

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 and thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed. Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP

Nika Kovalneko moved to Sydney two months ago after fleeing Ukraine to Poland and coming to Australia, where her aunt has lived for 17 years.

“It feels like another world for me, it’s very multicultural,” she said.

She said she would like to return to Ukraine, but as the war continues to rage on she had no certainty about where she will end up.

“All Ukrainians don’t know what will be tomorrow, and what will be of our ­country, if something goes wrong, maybe it will be a really nice decision to stay in Australia,” she said.

Charity Be Kind Sydney is raising money to help the Ukrainian refugees make a new start in Australia.

Ukrainian teenagers Nika Kovalneko 14, Anhelina Shevchuk 14 and Sofia Shamanskaya 14, didn’t know each other until they were forced to come to Australia and start their lives again. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Charity chief executive Loredana Fyffe said the refugees were being warmly welcomed in Sydney.

“These young people are optimistic about the future, despite the devastation they’ve seen in their young lives,” she said.

“It’s important they don’t feel isolated, and displaced young people have the chance to continue their education.”

Sydneysiders who wish to support the Ukrainian community can do so by being kind and donating to the Be Kind Sydney Appeal 2022 via https://ukrainian-helping-hand-project.raisely.com/.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.