Woman who fled Ukraine marks 'special' graduation

A woman who was forced to flee war-torn Ukraine has said graduating from university in the UK felt "incredibly special" after what she and her family had been through.

Sofia Demkiv left her home in Kyiv with her mother, aunt, sister and brother following Russia's invasion almost four years ago.

They arrived in the UK in April 2022 and were eventually settled in Stoke-on-Trent as part of the government's Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Demkiv later started a master's degree in marketing at Keele University and she graduated with distinction on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old said it was the first time in her life she felt "truly proud" of her academic achievements.

"Knowing the journey my family and I have been through, and how much heart and soul I put into my studies at Keele under such difficult circumstances, makes this moment feel incredibly special," she added.

Demkiv was 19 years old when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the family decided to leave for the UK after hearing explosions in the distance.

"It was an incredibly scary and stressful time," she said. "I was just starting my adult life when suddenly we had to pack everything up and move to a new country with no idea whether we would ever return home or even whether our home would still exist."

Demkiv visited Kyiv in October and said it was "impossible to describe the atmosphere unless you experience it yourself".

"People have sadly become used to the situation," she said. "While I felt scared and anxious, residents are now surprised if there isn't at least one attack a week."

She said while she hoped to move back to Ukraine eventually to raise a family, the UK had given her "so much" and she treasured the feeling of safety she had.

"I love the UK and I'm incredibly grateful for the support we've received," she added. "I never could have imagined this level of kindness when we arrived.

"It's something I'll remember forever and I hope one day I can repay it in some way."

Following her graduation, Demkiv said she would be trying to gain further work experience and pursue a career in the financial technology sector.

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