It's been almost a year since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine began.
Last year, a woman who evacuated from Ukraine to Kamagaya City, Chiba Prefecture, with her children, started working as a city employee with no relatives in Japan. I'm spending
Last October, Nasedkina Olga (33) evacuated from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to Kamagaya with her eldest son Jacob (6) and second son Petro (3).
I chose Japan as my evacuation destination because it was a country where I could live in peace, and although I had no friends or relatives, I received support from Kamagaya City, and now live in municipal housing and use a nursery school.
Since last December, she has been working as a city official for the fiscal year.
On the 21st, a lecture was held by the city, where Ms. Olga served as a lecturer, and told the 20 participants who gathered about the current situation in Ukraine.
In it, he explained how he had been evacuated after a series of Russian missile attacks, saying, "I was very scared because my children's lives depended on my decisions in the chaos."
Also, based on the history that part of Ukraine's territory was unilaterally annexed to Russia in 2014, he explained why Ukraine will fight thoroughly.
A 39-year-old man who participated said, "I could feel their earnest desire to let people know about the current situation in Ukraine. After a year, I'm getting used to it, so I'd like to reconsider if there's anything I can do to help." I was.
Olga said, "I think he was close to our feelings and shared our pain."
In addition, Olga said about her current life, "It's very safe, people are kind, and I'm enjoying my days. I'm happy that my children are spending their time at the nursery school."
On the other hand, regarding the fact that it has been a year since the invasion, she said, "I can't believe that a year has passed and so many lives have been lost. I am worried about my husband and parents who are still in dangerous places. I want the war to end as soon as possible."
According to the Immigration and Immigration Services Agency, among the people evacuated to Japan from Ukraine, as of the 15th of this month, there were 235 people who had no relatives when they entered Japan, which is about 10% of the total, and 215 of them. Matching has been established with municipalities in various places, and the municipalities are providing support such as housing.
Hiromi Shibata, Mayor of Kamagaya City, said, "We decided to accept them to support them, regardless of whether they have relatives. Not only the city but also citizens donate daily necessities, and the circle of warm support is expanding." I was.