After multiple tries to cross the U.S. border, and a lot of bureaucracy, this Ukrainian family who fled war is resettling in the Berkshires
WASHINGTON — Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Yana Nepliuieva and Ruslan Nepliuiev left their home in Dnipro, Ukraine, with three of their children and Yana’s mother.
Each carried a bag with their most important items and documents. Their end destination: the Berkshires.
“It was a difficult decision leaving everything behind,” Yana said, speaking through her niece, Karyna Politis, who translated for her.
The couple and their kids — Arianna, 8, Siuzanna, 11, and Nazar, 14 — and Yana’s mother, Valentyna Kysla, drove for several days through traffic in a propane-powered car that Ruslan welded together from parts. There were no seats in the back of the car, just an open floor.
They put a sign on the window that said “kids” in Russian, to avoid being shot at, Karyna said. They worried that when they got to the border, Ruslan would not be allowed to leave Ukraine and would be required to serve in the military. But he was allowed out because he had so many children, the family said.
The family put a sign on their car that says "kids," in hopes they would not get shot at as they left Ukraine after Russia invaded.
When they crossed the border into Hungary, they had not eaten in days. Strangers gave them food, Yana said, tearing up.
Arduous journey
That was the beginning of an arduous journey to the United States, which they said required thousand of dollars in travel expenses, multiple tries at crossing the U.S. border, and a lot of frustrating bureaucracy.
But by mid-May, the family of six arrived in the Berkshires and are now living on a quiet street in the town of Washington with their extended family at the home of Viktor and Viktoriya Tymchuk, Yana’s brother-in-law and sister. The Tymchuks, Karyna’s parents, came to the United States in 2005, first living in West Springfield before moving to Connecticut and eventually, Washington.
With relatives in the U.S., the Ukrainian family decided to to come live with them, they explained on a recent afternoon in the Tymchuk’s living room. The U.S. will welcome 100,000 Ukrainians to the United States, President Joe Biden said in March. The details though, proved to be complicated for Yana and Ruslan’s family.
“We hear on the news Biden says we’ll accept 100,000 Ukrainians, we’ll welcome them. And the steps and the bureaucracy to get there is insurmountable for most people,” said Nancy Quevillon, Karyna’s mother-in-law, who lives in North Adams and was key in organizing the logistics of the Ukrainian family’s trip.
“I’ve already gone through that immigration process from Canada. Without the help and a sponsor, none of this could have happened. None. This is one family and and there’s five million others.”
Of the 6 million people that the United Nations estimates have left the country, this is one family’s story.
After crossing the Hungarian border in late February, the family found shelter at a horse farm, Karyna said.
0 Response to "After multiple tries to cross the U.S. border, and a lot of bureaucracy, this Ukrainian family who fled war is resettling in the Berkshires"
Post a Comment