Even before the situation became uneasy in Ukraine, Oleksandr Kurovskyy had plans to move to Sweden in the future.
He had contacts that encouraged him to move here, with the promise of a better future.
- The whole family thought hard about it, but we had no date set for a move, he says.
Jobs and accommodation arranged
Even on the first day when the war began, the choice was obvious.
Sweden was the country that the family wanted to move to because the opportunities were here.
And so it was - two weeks after arriving from the Ukrainian city of Rivne to Växjö, the family had an apartment and Oleksandr a temporary job.
- We managed to rent an apartment in central Växjö and I got a temporary job at the car workshop.
The children also go to school, says Oleksandr Kurovskyy.
Right now he is doing everything to be able to continue working in the county.
His Swedish contacts, on the other hand, have taught him that he lacks the biggest key to a bright future - language.
- We put all the focus on studying Swedish right now, then we have to take it from there, he says.
The war in Ukraine - this is how Småland is affected
LNU stops student exchanges - Russian student Daria is no longer welcome
1 minute
Three Ukrainian phrases to learn
38 sec
Bought ambulance at auction - driven to Ukraine with equipment
1 minute
Three questions: How Ukrainian children are received in Swedish schools
1 minute
Dmytro helped disabled Pikula escape from Ukraine
2 min
Alla Bidniuk writes Swedish-Ukrainian dictionary
1 minute
The bus driver tells us - the Ukrainians are hesitant about Sweden
1 minute