Ukrainian refugees celebrate Australia Day after fleeing war

After fleeing their conflict-ridden homeland for a better life, NSW’s Ukrainian refugees are set to celebrate their first ever Australia Day— and they couldn’t be happier.

UKRAINIAN refugees who have fled their war-torn homeland say they’re very lucky and grateful to be living in our country and having the opportunity to celebrate Australia Day.

Blacktown mum Maryna Lailka, who had worked as a dancer back in Kyiv, says she loves how the country is so international, and how so many Aussies have helped her and shown such kindness.

“We like the Australian environment, its nature and its people,” she said.
“We have a lot of Australian friends right now and they are also open and ready to support us and help us when we need something.”

Maryna, her husband Oleksandr Trukhin and six year-old daughter Victoriia arrived in March last year after leaving just before the war broke out.

Ukrainian refugees Oleksandr Trukhin, his wife Maryna Lialka, with their daughter Viktoriia, six, are looking forward to Australia Day this year. Picture: David Swift

“People didn‘t believe that war was possible in the 21st century,” she said.

The family went to Spain on a holiday and asked friends and family to go with them to escape the coming conflict, but no one would go.

The family have started their new life in western Sydney. Picture: David Swift

Then a state of emergency was declared and they saw that Australian tourist visas were being offered.

“So we decided to try it and in less than one day we received confirmation that our tourist visas were approved.”

Her fellow Ukrainian citizen Mariia Kurenkova, from Meadowbank, also escaped on a tourist visa.

“It was hard to get out of Ukraine because a lot of infrastructure was bombed and a lot of bridges and gas stations so it was very hard to find gas for the car,” she said.

“I only had a small backpack with me, with just some pants and T-shirts.”

A product marketing manager and competitive archer, Marriia arrived a month after the war began, and still works remotely for her old company based in her homeland.

“I’m very lucky,” she said.

“I have met a lot of good people here and I have found new friends, Ukrainians, Australians and they’re really supportive.”