The sisters had to flee Kyiv and the newly opened bakery - now they serve guests in Helsingborg

In November last year, the sisters realized the dream of starting a bakery in Kyiv.

Then they had lived apart for many years.

Marina had worked in Donetsk and Mariupol, while Nadiia lived in Kyiv with Marina's daughter and the sisters' mother.

- Our mother and Marina's daughter moved to me in Kyiv when the fighting broke out in the Donbass eight years ago.

Many believe that the war began in February, but it has lasted longer than that, says Nadiia, who for many years worked voluntarily to help refugees in the Donass region.

In the clip, you hear how chance took them to Fahlmans, where the women today work.

Everything changed overnight

In the capital, they felt safe.

The bakery did well and customers began to flock.

But on February 24, when Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, everything changed.

- I was standing at the bus stop early in the morning when I heard strange noises and lights in the air.

When I came to the bakery, a lot of people were moving, they were in shock, says Nadiia.

The sisters were determined to stay and keep the bakery open.

- We felt that our work was needed, people needed bread.

It was ... it's our home, our country.

Went away on a temporary trip

But their mother's health deteriorated, and when they finally could not find her necessary medicines at the pharmacy, they decided to leave Kyiv.

But only for a few days.

It was mid-March - and they have not returned yet.

Marina's daughter Lisa, who lives in Estonia, urged them to go further and guided the women at a distance through western Ukraine and out into Europe.

In the end, they - the sisters, their mother, a cat and a turtle - ended up in a house on the Kulla Peninsula that the women were offered to borrow free of charge.

Also arranged by Lisa in Estonia.

At the front of the picture is Lisa, Marina's daughter, who helped the women to leave Kyiv and get to Sweden.

Behind her are the sisters and their mother.

Why Sweden?

- We do not really know.

Lisa said we would go here.

Maybe because it is close to Estonia.

We knew nothing about the country, says Nadiia.

- The Swedes are sympathetic and nice, but we miss Kyiv very, very much.