War in Ukraine: Mum and son fled for life in Shetland

A Ukrainian mother has shared how she and her teenage son are adjusting to life in Shetland after fleeing the conflict.

Tatyana Safronova and 14-year-old Serhii find a footing far from Dnipro with Tony and Helen Erwood.

They were among the first Ukrainian refugees to be flown to Scotland after receiving a visa.

A grateful Tatyana said: “I really hope that we will return to Ukraine soon and dream of living our usual lives.”

Her partner Oleksandr urged her to leave after the Russian invasion.

“He told me to get out of town,” she said.

“He said he would be more comfortable serving in the army if he knew we were safe.”

They arrived in Scotland at the end of March and flew to Shetland on April 3 to meet their hosts.

The pilot hugged them as they landed and told them they were safe.

Tatyana told BBC Radio Shetland through an interpreter: “In Ukraine we had to leave our whole life in the city of Dnipro, my partner stayed, he serves in the army.

“We had to leave our cat and all of our friends and relatives behind. Many left to serve in the army.”

Tony explained: “We’ve seen pictures on TV and it’s almost unbelievable. I never thought we would see something like this in our lives. It was just awful.

“We see all these people desperately trying to get out of Ukraine and we thought we had space here and could provide housing for some people.”

Helen said if it happened to them they would want someone to offer “refuge and kindness”.

She said: “I’m old enough to be Tatyana’s mother and Serhii’s grandma – kind of like surrogate grandparents looking after her.

“We firmly believe that we have a duty of care, to protect their privacy, to give them the freedom to develop, to do what they want here, to learn about our culture.

“And we’re learning, very poorly, a little Ukrainian as we go.

“They also introduced them to foods they haven’t eaten before – pickled onions were a revelation, and potato waffles.”

Tony laughed: “When Tatyana and Serhii arrived in the UK, the first meal they wanted was fish and chips – which they got.”

Helen said the weather and driving conditions on Shetland have been challenging.

Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, she said: “It’s been so cold since they’ve been here, winds that cut you through, they’re not used to it.

“And to explain to Tatyana while driving – she is learning to drive one of our cars – that she has to park against the wind, otherwise you could damage the doors. She’s never met that before.

“I think for them personally, single lane roads were quite a challenge, especially where sheep roam.”

Tatyana said the local community was fantastic. Serhii is settling in and has just started secondary school.

She said: “Serhii behaves like a typical teenager, spending a lot of time on the computer and on the phone.

“But he also spends his time walking around the island and studying nature with great interest.

“I hope that his time at the local school will do him good and improve his English.”

During the Second World War, Tony and Helen’s home was a base for transporting agents, resistance fighters and refugees between occupied Norway and Shetland.

More than 75 years later it is once again a sanctuary for those seeking refuge.

Helen said: “It gave hope to the Norwegians and I think it’s very poetic that we’re trying to bring hope back to the Ukrainians here.

“One or two people have said it’s entirely fitting that they should stay here.”

The hosts said Tatyana and Serhii had “joined the family” but hoped it wouldn’t be too long before they could visit them when they were back in Ukraine.

Helen said, “We want to help them rebuild their lives.”