Ukrainian woman flees war zone and lands in Bayfield, Wisconsin

BAYFIELD, WI. (KBJR) – On the Manypenny Bistro in Bayfield, they’re gearing up for the busy vacationer season.

Their latest server is known as Olha and her path to Bayfield proves she’s no stranger to overcoming adversity.

“I’m from Dnipro, it’s located in central Ukraine and I had an excellent life earlier than the warfare began,” stated Olha Kucheriava, a Ukrainian refugee and new server at Manypenny Bistro.

In line with Kucheriava, after the invasion, it solely took a couple of days for the violence to achieve her.

“Very close to my residence the place I reside they put bombs,” Kucheriava stated.

After days of sheltering in a subway station, she determined to flee.

“After that, I believe I want to go away the nation as a result of it’s harmful, and if I’ve an opportunity to go away, I don’t need to die,” stated Kucheriava.

She needed to journey mild.

“I left all my garments and every little thing, I simply have a backpack with me,” stated Kucheriava.

Whereas Olha was doing every little thing she might to get out of Ukraine, somebody in Bayfield was doing every little thing he might to carry her there.

Two years in the past, whereas working in Turkey, Olha met Mursel Demirkol.

He was raised in Turkey, however now lives in Bayfield and owns the Manypenny Bistro.

“I used to be watching the information and it was actually scary, they have been always bombing and so they have been actually near her metropolis,” stated Demirkol.

They’ve been courting long-distance and have been engaged for over a 12 months.

The 2 have been in fixed contact with Olha because the invasion.

“Then one night time I informed her to simply get away, leap the practice,” stated Demirkol.

So she did.

Kucheriava spent a number of days driving 4 trains to get out of Ukraine into Hungary.

Then she flew to Turkey to stick with Demirkol’s household, and from there, Mexico, after which the states.

“I fly to San Diego and rented a automotive and I picked her up in Tijuana,” stated Demirkol.

After that, they flew east to get to Bayfield.

“Right here it’s like very peaceable, you already know,” stated Kucheriava.

It’s a brand new life, freed from warfare, on the shore of Lake Superior.

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