Ukrainian woman describes how she has made Yorkshire home, four years on from invasion
A Ukrainian woman who has made South Yorkshire her home has described how she is supporting those remaining in the country, four years on from Russia’s invasion.
Mariia Rubtsova fled Ukraine as a refugee alongside her then ten-year-old daughter Yeva to Sheffield under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Last summer she joined Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, an NHS set up organisation which supports businesses.
And now she is running a specialist bootcamp, the first of its kind, to help Ukrainian healthtech innovators looking to enter the UK market.
Eight healthcare companies have been recruited to the Propel Ukraine Bootcamp, giving them access to educational masterclasses on the NHS, its structure and regulation.
Describing the bootcamp, Ms Rubtsova said: “I understand from my own experience how difficult it is to work in another country.
“Over the past four years, I have met incredible mentors and people who helped me navigate this journey. Now, I want to do the same for Ukrainians — to help them be heard, to express themselves, and to give their ideas the opportunity they deserve.
“I see how Ukrainians, despite the war, are taking the best from their experience and doing truly remarkable things. As difficult as it is to say, no one else in the world has the kind of experience that Ukrainian doctors are gaining — including on the front line while caring for patients.
“This knowledge and resilience can be incredibly valuable, not only for Ukraine, but for healthcare systems around the world.”
On her own journey, Ms Rubtsova said: “We were classic refugees, moving from Ukraine on February 25 2022. It was a long journey, and we arrived in the UK in April on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
“We lived with our hosts for one and a half years, and now we’re separate but we’re still really close.”
Her parents, sister and ex-husband are all still living in the war-torn country.
She said: “The family we lived with, Judith and Andrew, are incredible and kind people. We were blessed. Emotionally, it’s so tricky being away from family.
“They are living in the middle of the country, it’s not on the front line but there’s still sirens.
“It’s so tricky with powercuts. With our innovators, yesterday one missed a session because they were without power for 20 hours.”
Tuesday February 24 marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has seen hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced in their desperation to flee the country.
Queen Victoria Square in Hull will be illuminated in blue and yellow from dusk to commemorate the anniversary.
The Leader of Hull City Council, Mike Ross, said: “As we have done throughout the entire war, we continue to show our support to the people of Ukraine, and pay tribute to them and the way they have endured everything in the last 4 years.
“While there will still be some people in our city who remember the devastating effects of war from the 1940s, it will be hard for most to truly appreciate the horrors the Ukrainian people have experienced in recent times.
“As much as we can do, we remain steadfast in our opposition to Russia’s actions, and our solidarity will continue with Ukraine throughout.”