Maryna Korolova’s life changed in an instant when she was in her last month of pregnancy. Instead of peacefully awaiting the birth of her child, she had to flee from the horrors of war that began in Ukraine in 2022.
Amid the sound of sirens in a bomb shelter, Maryna gave birth to her daughter Emmanuelle while leaving her native Kyiv with her husband and two sons. Abandoning their home and family construction business, they set off into the unknown, taking only the bare necessities.
Fate led them to the small town of Abergavenny in Wales. Today, three years after the war began, the Korolova family has opened their own café on the town’s high street.
“We were met with warmth and understanding. Local residents supported us, sympathized with us, and helped us. Thanks to them, we feel at home,” Maryna shares.
According to Maryna, it was the support of the Abergavenny community that helped their family adapt to their new environment and start a business.
The Korolova family’s story is one of three accounts about Ukrainians who now run businesses in Wales. They shared their experiences with BBC News on the occasion of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
These stories demonstrate the incredible strength of people who, despite all difficulties and obstacles, find opportunities for a new beginning in a new land.
