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A Chicago girl who spent greater than per week serving to displaced Ukrainians in Poland — and who will probably be returning there once more quickly — revealed to Fox Information Digital what it was like aiding refugees who fled Ukraine as Russian troops attacked and ignited the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Yulia Skuibida, 39, was born and raised in Kyiv; she’s lived in Chicago for the previous 17 years. When she heard that Russia had invaded Ukraine, she felt she needed to take fast motion.
The very subsequent day, she boarded a flight to Poland.
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“I couldn’t keep at house,” Skuibida mentioned. “Once I noticed there was bombing in Kyiv, I used to be simply devastated.”
A crowd of refugees awaits transportation after fleeing Ukraine and arriving on the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on Monday, March 7, 2022.
(Related Press)
Skuibida arrived in Poland in late February and started gathering provides each for a medical clinic and for Ukrainian troopers. Whereas nonetheless there, Skuibida described to Fox Information Digital the scene on the border.
“I wished to go there to try to meet them and greet them … and to assist them as a result of I communicate Ukrainian.”
In Poland, Skuibida mentioned her fast focus was comforting as many individuals who fled Ukraine as she may. “Males [from ages 18-60] should not allowed to depart, so it’s principally ladies with children,” Skuibida mentioned.
She was involved about getting meals to these ready to enter Poland on the Ukraine aspect of the border, she mentioned.
Yulia Skuibida, 39, was born and raised in Kyiv; she’s lived in Chicago for the previous 17 years. When she heard that Russia invaded Ukraine, she felt she needed to take fast motion, so she went to Poland to assist Ukrainian refugees.
(Yulia Skuibida)
“I knew there have been traces of individuals standing within the chilly climate for 15 hours,” Skuibida mentioned.
She added that individuals donated funds to her in order that she may purchase provides and ship them throughout the border.
A Polish border guard assists Ukrainian refugees as they arrive in Poland on the Korczowa crossing, on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
(Related Press)
Because the mom of a 1-year-old, Skuibida mentioned she couldn’t assist however consider the challenges that Ukrainian dad and mom have been going through as they left their properties and their nation whereas additionally caring for his or her kids.
“You look of their eyes, and so they misplaced all the things.”
“I wished to only to go right here to try to meet them and greet them, attempt to assist them as a result of I communicate Ukrainian,” Skuibida mentioned.
Documented on Fb
Skuibida has been documenting her journey of volunteering on her Fb web page.
On March 1, she posted a number of images, captioning the publish, “Life on the border.” She shared photographs of transportable bogs, a child crib, strollers, packaged meals and sizzling drinks.
Skuibida described the climate as disagreeable and “similar to Chicago climate.”
As time handed, nevertheless, she mentioned the traces turned extra environment friendly and the wait time to enter Poland diminished, Skuibida mentioned.
“It’s a troublesome state of affairs, however Ukraine just isn’t going to surrender and folks will need to keep and folks need to assist.”
On the Poland aspect, Skuibida mentioned refugees have been typically met with sizzling espresso, tea and soup.
When Ukrainian refugees cross into Poland, they will get sizzling espresso or tea. Individuals appeared relieved to be out of fast hazard, Yula Skuibida instructed Fox Information Digital — although many challenges for them nonetheless lie forward.
(Yulia Skuibida)
Skuibida mentioned it took some individuals days to succeed in the border — and that she heard tales of individuals ready for trains and hiding from gunfire alongside the way in which.
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“You look of their eyes, and so they misplaced all the things,” Skuibida mentioned. “They don’t know what the long run holds.”
Skuibida mentioned individuals who crossed into Poland appeared relieved to be out of hazard, although many challenges for them nonetheless lie forward.
A child crib is proven close to the Poland-Ukraine border.
(Yulia Skuibida)
“I do know when individuals come over, they really feel secure,” Skuibida mentioned.
She mentioned that after just a few days of respite, refugees possible begin occupied with their plans for the close to future.
“I’m very proud to be Ukrainian proper now, as a result of we’re standing up towards Russia.”
“Sure, volunteers are serving to to feed them right here and there, however for a way lengthy is it going to final?” Skuibida instructed Fox Information Digital.
A stroller is proven parked on the Poland-Ukraine border.
(Yulia Skuibida)
Yulia Skuibida, far left, entrance, is pictured together with her mates who volunteered together with her on the border. Skuibida mentioned she knew solely three individuals when she arrived in Poland; she met the others as she hung out there.
(Yulia Skuibida)
“Youngsters need to go to high school. Mother has to work with a purpose to discover and pay for all the things. … Some individuals got here right here with nothing, completely nothing,” she mentioned.
Boots, sleeping baggage and extra
Although she continued to volunteer on the border, Skuibida additionally gathered medical provides to ship to a clinic in Kyiv.
She additionally collected boots and sleeping baggage for the Ukrainian army, she mentioned.
Except for espresso and tea, Ukrainian individuals who have crossed the border into Poland are additionally capable of get meals.
(Yulia Skuibida)
Skuibida is a part of the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities Worldwide; the group had been sending provides over to Skuibida in Poland.
In some instances, individuals even flew to Poland themselves to carry the provides on to Skuibida, so she may prepare for them to be dropped at Ukraine.
A whole bunch of beds are proven positioned inside a sports activities corridor to accommodate Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion on the border crossing city of Medyka, Poland, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
(Related Press)
“We rented two vans and we’re receiving sure provides from Chicago,” Skuibida mentioned.
Skuibida mentioned she drove the products to the Ukraine border and despatched them to the cities most in want.
Vans are proven lined up close to the Poland-Ukraine border.
(Yulia Skuibida)
She and different volunteers additionally purchased provides all through Poland and areas of Europe and supplied them to the Ukrainians.
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Again to Chicago
Skuibida mentioned she flew again to Chicago earlier this week as a result of she missed her son, although she’s grateful her husband was capable of look after him whereas she was away.
She mentioned she’s now gathering provides in Chicago once more to carry again to Poland when she returns there within the days forward.
“I’m very proud to be Ukrainian proper now as a result of we’re standing up towards Russia,” Skuibida mentioned.
“We weren’t prepared for any conflict … and now we’re combating with no matter we will discover.”
She went on, “It’s a troublesome state of affairs, however Ukraine just isn’t going to surrender and folks will need to keep and folks need to assist.”
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