Ukrainian roving reporter makes Galway his home

Refugee group seek premises to set up community hub

EVERY individual who has been forced to flee their home and livelihood in the Ukraine have their own unique story to share.

At the time of writing, it’s believed at least 15 million Ukraine nationals have been displaced from their homes. There have been 46,000 deaths, 13,000 people injured, 400 missing, 2,300 buildings destroyed, and property damage believed to cost in the region of €550 billion since the Russian invasion began. Truly staggering and frightening statistics.

Recent surveys show that Ireland is currently hosting over 35,600 Ukrainian refugees, who are scattered right across the country.

After Vladimir Putin launched the senseless Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24 of this year, Artem Kvashyn and his family were eventually left with no other option but to abandon their war-torn homeland and seek refuge elsewhere as the Russian forces’ offensive intensified.

Artem, along with his wife and three children (who are aged 17, five and just four months), is one of the lucky men who was able to escape his native land. Martial law, aimed at bolstering the resistance forces, have some exemptions for men; including fathers with three or more children or those with medical issues being granted permission to leave the country.

However, for Artem, a journalist with the Centre for Investigative Journalism organisation, his exit was far from plain sailing …

For more, check out this week’s The Tuam Herald or log onto our digital edition HERE