A couple have their heart set on a new home in Scotland – as they plan to flee their war-torn homeland of Ukraine. Anastasia and Stanislav Shane “live in constant fear” in the country’s capital, Kyiv.
They say that, since the war started, their lives in their country’s capital have “changed dramatically”. Anastasia, 33, and Stanislav, 38, are from a small village called Hostomel, northwest of Kyiv.
But they were forced to flee in early 2022 after it became one of the first areas invaded by Russian troops. Their home was severely damaged by a shell and they were forced to move in with relatives in Kyiv and have remained there ever since.
While they found relative safety in the capital, life presents daily challenges amid the ongoing conflict. And Edinburgh Live reports they have made the difficult decision to leave their home and are seeking sponsors in the Edinburgh area.
Anastasia told Edinburgh Live: “Life in Kyiv is filled with unpredictability and stress. Nearly every night, we wake up to the sound of air raid sirens and rush to take shelter from rockets or drones.
“The constant lack of proper sleep affects our ability to work and cope with daily life. The fear of potential attacks is always present. Living under the constant fear for our lives has taken a toll on our mental health, leading to panic attacks and immense stress.
“After much thought, we made the difficult decision to leave Ukraine and start over somewhere safe.” While the couple hoped the war would end quickly, they came to realise “there is no clear end in sight”.
They are now mentally and physically exhausted after enduring years of war. As the winter wears on, power outages are expected to return and make even basic daily tasks more difficult.
Anastasia and Stanislav hope to build a future in Scotland. They have friends who have already relocated to Armadale, West Lothian and the couple was encouraged by how welcoming the Scottish people were to their friends.
Anastasia added: “Friends of ours have already moved there and speak warmly about the country and its people. They have offered to help us adapt to life in Scotland, find work quickly, and integrate into the community.
“Their support is a key reason we’ve chosen Scotland, as moving to a new country is never easy, and having trusted friends nearby will make the transition more manageable.
“We are determined to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. Our goal is to secure jobs, find a place to live, and eventually bring our beloved cat, who we consider part of our family, to join us.
“Unfortunately, finding a sponsor who accepts pets has proven almost impossible. so for now, we plan to leave her in Ukraine with someone we trust and reunite with her as soon as we can.”
“Over the coming years, we hope to achieve stability in Scotland —secure employment, improve our English, and find a permanent place to live.
“Most importantly, we want to create a safe and happy environment where we can plan for the future without fear.” If you would like to reach out to Anastasia and Stanislav to offer support or sponsorship, email at [email protected].
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.