When Veronika Yasynska was woken by the sounds of three powerful blasts outside her home in Ukraine, she knew her life was about to change forever.
But she never would have predicted that one year later she would be in Liverpool helping promote a major global event dedicated to her home nation after 12 months of war and destruction.
Having fled Ukraine when Russia's invasion began, Veronika, 29, first made her way to Poland and then onto the UK where she has settled in Liverpool. She is now an events project assistant for the city council's culture team working to promote May's Eurovision Song Contest.
READ MORE: Couple stuck in deep freeze because they can't top up gas money
Remembering the day when everything changed, she said: "I was woken up by three powerful blasts, one right after the other. I knew that it was really close because of the sound and vibration. The war had started. I was frozen from shock for a few hours because we didn’t know what to do.
"The things I saw and heard were like something from a World War II movie - screams, pregnant women on the platforms, luggage torn apart while people grabbed essential items.
"I did not want to leave my home, but I lived near a military base, so it was a target zone. One of the first civilian buildings to be targeted by a missile strike was close to my house. That moment is a level of fear I will never forget. We had no choice but to leave, it wasn’t safe.
"We could take only one rucksack per person, so I grabbed my computer, a camera, two T-shirts, pair of jeans, hygiene basics and some documents. We didn’t know where we were going, we just thought we needed to go somewhere."
Writing in a Liverpool Council blog, she added: "We travelled in darkness for safety. People were completely silent. It was very scary because we were passing through danger zones. Even the animals seemed to understand. They lay on the floor without making a sound even when someone stepped on them. I ended up in Poland with my mom only. A friend who had moved from Ukraine to the UK nearly three years ago encouraged me to seek refuge in Liverpool."
Veronika said it was very hard to make the decision to relocate again. She had already travelled through Ukraine and Romania then Hungary and Slovakia before reaching Poland, leaving her physically and emotionally exhausted.
She said: From the moment I arrived in Liverpool, I knew I wanted to support my country as much as possible. I worked as a PR and Brand Manager on cultural and educational projects in Ukraine, so I put my experience to good use. I worked with Liverpool City Council’s Central Library to arrange for Ukrainian books to be stocked there and I organised an Independence Day of Ukraine cultural event at the Museum of Liverpool. I’m so grateful that the council and National Museums Liverpool were brave enough to start a conversation with me and start to build a trust."
In October it was announced that the 2023 Eurovision host city would be Liverpool. UK cities had been bidding for the honour after it was deemed that Ukraine would be too unsafe to host the event after its 2022 contest win. Liverpool's winning bid is based around paying tribute to the spirit and culture of Ukraine including a wide range of cultural commissions.
Veronika said she instantly saw an opportunity to help and joined the city council's culture team. She said: "In my role at Culture Liverpool, I am working across the cultural commissions, the majority of which are collaborations between UK and Ukrainian artists. I will also be advising partners on Ukrainian culture, and I will be the link between them and the Ukrainian community in the city.
"Eurovision is a chance and platform for us (Ukrainians) to tell the world more about our country and to bust any myths. Declare again that we are an independent and sovereign state with our own language, 1000-year history, and importantly that - we are not a part of Russia. My goal is to show to the different nations the country I love and make them fall in love with it too. I want to encourage others to consider visiting Ukraine one day."
Veronika says she is trying to absorb every experience that she has here in Liverpool so that she can build links with Ukraine and the rest of Europe to help with closer working in the future. She added: "This is the first time two countries have ever come together to host Eurovision so it’s a once in a lifetime experience."
Veronika said: "It is not a secret that the Eurovision Song contest is a celebration, so it is quite difficult to speak about the war. But I’m glad that Liverpool has given us this space and supports us to bring the victory of Ukraine closer."
She said she has been moved by the welcome she has had from Liverpool and Scousers, adding: "The people of Liverpool have created an environment that makes me feel accepted and heard. Liverpool understands me and gives me hope. I’ve seen its history through the May blitz. The bomb damage that Liverpool suffered – it’s the same thing that’s happening in Ukraine now. For me it is a great example of Scousers’ resilience, they have that in common with the people of Ukraine. Liverpool came back stronger than ever after the war - we can do the same.
"I’m so glad I’ve had the opportunity to spend almost a year here and learn about Scouse culture. The people of Liverpool are so kind, so generous and so welcoming. Everyone will be amazed by the welcome. I can’t imagine a better place to hold Eurovision than Liverpool."
READ NEXT:
Mum buying 100 Lidl cucumbers 'barred' after manager runs over
'Wolf of Old Hall Street' took his own life after being unable to escape money troubles
Couple stuck in deep freeze because they can't top up gas money
