One refugee's journey from Ukraine to a new life in Scotland

“And then, that night, February 24, 2022, early morning, I heard these noises again, these noises, and in this moment I realised that war had started.”

Larysa Zhdankina was woken by bombs falling near her house in Kyev two years ago today, as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of her homeland.

READ MORE: David Pratt returns to Ukraine to deliver reporting in The National

She heard the first explosions at around 5am. One hour later, amid the unfolding emergency, was called into work by her bosses at Ukraine’s Constitutional Court.

Less than six hours later, Larysa says: “We started our long, long journey from Kyev.”

Larysa and her daughter Yevhenia, who was then just 13, had become refugees in the first war on European soil of the 21st century.

She told The National: “I tried to push these thoughts from myself, you know, I tried not to think about it. I said to my daughter ‘don't worry, everything will be good’.

“But when we heard the first air alarm … it was a horrible, terrible situation. Honestly, it made me panicky. It made me cry. I realised that we needed to do something. But to be honest, all of us were not ready, completely not ready.”

Larysa went on: “I can't say that we didn't hear about predictions or some ideas before the new year. During all of January, people and especially some politicians said ‘maybe’. But honestly, we never believed it. I never thought that it could happen in my country.”

After Vladimir Putin’s invasion began, Larysa was faced with a life-changing decision: where to go for safety.

Her son, Valerii – who is named after her husband – was studying at Glasgow University at the time, so there was an answer.

Larysa with her son and husband Valerii and her daughter Yevhenia (Image: Larysa)

Thanks to the support of their sponsors – a couple from Glasgow – Larysa and her daughter were able to come to Scotland, a move they at first thought would be only temporary.

“I thought, honestly, I believed that the war [would last] only for a couple of months,” Larysa said. “I always thought that I would go back home.”

But by Christmas 2022 they were still unable to return to Ukraine, and instead got their own flat in Scotland’s largest city.

READ MORE: Glasgow twinned with Ukrainian city on anniversary of Russian invasion

Larysa said: “If I can say it in this way, it was like a miracle.

“It was exactly before Christmas, and on Christmas Eve … I started to think about what I can do for my life here, how I can encourage my children to start something, to launch a different way to live. I got different ideas for my work. I don’t know where I got it, but it was like a miracle, honestly.

“I thought that, in this moment, I thought that this country accepted me.”

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf affirms ‘steadfast support’ for Ukraine on second invasion anniversary

Larysa said that her work in Ukraine’s Constitutional Court, and her career before that, had been focused on the practicalities and applications of law.

But in Scotland, she saw an opportunity to pivot into academia, exchanging knowledge with the experts here.

Larysa pulled together an explanation of the research she wanted to do on transitional justice and constitutional law and began making “cold contact” with academics in Scottish institutions. She says that while many didn’t get back, some did.

“This was my first step,” she said. “If this particular door, for example, doesn't open, ok, no problem. There is another way, there is another door. I know, never give up, do something, go on and do something.”

Now, Larysa is a guest lecturer at the University of Strathclyde as well as a visiting academic at Glasgow University’s School of Law. She has spoken at the Law Society of Scotland and the Advocates Library in Edinburgh, had a book published on her research, and is looking to study the 18th century Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda.

Asked if it was difficult to start all over again after having such a high-powered job in Ukraine, Larysa said: “I thought, there are two ways in this situation.

“On the one hand, of course, it was very difficult to realise that I had to start my journey, my career, from scratch, from the zero point. I know how it's very difficult to build a career because I did it in Ukraine.

“But at the same time I realised that, of course, I have my profession, I have the basis, I have some experience. And I thought, ok, I accept it. I can start my journey, not from scratch, but from this.”

She added: “Honestly, I'm happy about everything, because everything together gives me more force and power, especially inside.

“This country accepted myself and my family, but Ukraine is my motherland. I was happy there. I had everything I need. I can't forget it.

“Of course, I can't think that I will never go back home. I predict that maybe it will happen.

“But I think that experience from Ukraine and from Scotland will be good for both of these countries. I think that everything I do here, I do it for Scotland and for Ukraine.”