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Irish Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Please don't take my home away.' 120 Ukrainians told to leave accommodation
Ukrainians who fled the war in their homeland and were placed in accommodation in Millstreet in Co Cork have said that they are distraught at a decision by the Department of Justice to move them from the site. Fiona Corcoran, founder of humanitarian support charity The Greater Chernobyl Cause, says that some 120 Ukrainians at the Green Glens Arena have to leave the facility by August 29. They have spent three years living in the facility. It is understood that the decision was made without any consultation, not only with the Ukrainians onsite but with the team at the Green Glens Arena, who were reportedly informed of the decision by the Department last week. There is no plan for the reallocation of the accommodation to other persons seeking shelter. Ms Corcoran says that there is a huge sense of anxiety among the residents who received their notice to leave. "Two ladies are battling cancer, while others have heart conditions, autism, and various other concerns. Many of these individuals are in school, attending college, or working locally. There is a profound sense of sorrow within the Ukrainian community. "They have been informed that they must find homes for their pets, as they will not be allowed to bring them to their next accommodation. Unfortunately, no one knows where they will go next. "I call on decision makers to seriously consider the profound impact this move will have, particularly on the children and families who now call Millstreet home. It is deeply distressing." Meanwhile, Valeria Marchenko, who is from Mariupol, has lived in Millstreet since 2022. She is desperate not to leave her new home. "Even though I didn't speak English at first, I was hired (locally). My husband has been working as a welder for the past three years. I have never met people as kind and generous as those in Ireland. They gave us a home, and we are truly happy to be here. "We're glad that we can contribute something in return. We pay our taxes, we work, and we're proud to be part of this community. Arena is like a big family, we help and support each other. Please don't take my home away from me." Ms Marchenko said that when the war broke out in February 2022 her husband was away working. She was living with her mother. "For two months and 16 days, we lived in a basement - without electricity, gas, or Internet. We were completely cut off from the outside world and didn't understand what was happening. We only understood one thing: we could die at any moment. "On March 8th, my godmother passed away. I took a shovel and dug a grave in our yard. I don't know where I found the strength, but I buried her. I tried to dig deep enough so that the body wouldn't be disturbed by animals. "There was no one left in the city - no doctors, no police, nothing was functioning. When there were fierce battles for access to water, we had to crawl on the ground to reach the sea. There was a stream about 2–3 kilometres away. When we couldn't cook over a fire, we ate snow. Food was given to the children first. There were around 30 people in the basement. "I still remember how one young man's leg was torn off when he went out to get food. They tried to save him - they cut away the shrapnel with a kitchen knife and put a burning log or coal on the wound to cauterise it. But sadly, he didn't survive. He remained dead with us in the basement for another five days until we could finally carry him out and bury him. "During all this time, my husband didn't know whether I was alive or not. He was trying to find me. Some people took money from him in exchange for false information. They even told him I had died in the drama theatre." Ms Marchenko said that her mother was too terrified to even leave the basement. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "But when the Russians entered, we left the city. My dad lived in the nearby village of Volodarsk. My mom, my cat, my dog, and I walked 22 kilometres. The city was closed, and my dad didn't know whether I was alive or not. He tried to get into Mariupol five times, but they wouldn't let him in. "A military bus eventually took us from Volodarsk to Taganrog. From Taganrog, we made our way to Lithuania. My mom's husband was waiting for us there. My husband's family was already in Ireland because they had a car and had managed to leave earlier. My husband and I later flew to Ireland. "We were welcomed with smiles and kindness. People gave us food, clothes, and housing. I want to say that, throughout this incredibly difficult journey, I didn't meet a single bad person. I am deeply grateful to Ireland and its people." It is understood that the Department of Justice has told the families that there is a reduced need for accommodation for Ukrainians in Ireland following a drop in the number of people leaving Ukraine. They were told that the number of locations is being reduced and that all accommodation required is "temporary" in nature. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment in relation to the move.
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Department to evict 123 Ukrainian refugees from Millstreet at end of August
'I would rather sleep on the streets with my dog than live in a house without him.' These were the words of Ludmila Koren from the Green Glens Arena as she faces being separated from her best friend who was known for saving lives in his own country. The dog Tosha's acute hearing offered warnings to Ludmila's family after the air raid sirens in her locality were damaged. Now, the Ukrainian woman, who is one of 123 residents facing eviction from the temporary accommodation facility in Millstreet, Cork is uncertain about what the future holds for them both. It is understood that Green Glens Arena owner Thomas Duggan was not involved with the decision and wants the residents to stay. Ludmila held her little dog tight while speaking about the eviction letter issued in recent days which states that residents will be moved to new accommodation on August 29. A number of people are still reeling after learning they will have to leave their pets behind. Fiona Corcoran of The Greater Chernobyl Cause with some of the 123 Ukrainian war refugees. She said: 'These residents are not just passive recipients of aid. They are working, attending school, and actively striving to rebuild their lives.' Picture: Larry Cummins Fiona Corcoran from the Greater Chernobyl Cause, a Cork charity supporting displaced Ukrainians, described the news as deeply distressing. 'It is unacceptable that Ukrainian residents are being removed from their temporary homes with little notice, vague information about their relocation, and the devastating restriction that they cannot take their beloved pets with them,' she said. 'I have seen first-hand the deep gratitude these individuals have for Ireland and specifically for the community of Millstreet, which welcomed them with open arms. These residents are not just passive recipients of aid. They are working, attending school, and actively striving to rebuild their lives. "Many of them are seeking housing in the local area, but this is made increasingly difficult by the severe shortage of rental accommodations.' She said the impact of such a decision on lives will be detrimental. 'Children have arrived and begun their education in Irish schools, with some now transitioning into secondary school. For these children and their families, who have already faced unimaginable trauma, being uprooted again is an additional and unnecessary burden.' Adrianna Kholostenko and her son Serafym who is going into sixth class at the loacl national school in September. 'Children have arrived and begun their education in Irish schools, with some now transitioning into secondary school. For these children and their families, who have already faced unimaginable trauma, being uprooted again is an additional and unnecessary burden.' Picture: Larry Cummins A total of eight families at the centre are believed to have pets including dogs, cats and one guinea pig. Issued by the Department of Justice, the letters states: 'We can no longer provide accommodation for pets. If you own a pet you will have to make alternative arrangements for it.' Ludmila has vowed to fight the decision to the bitter end. Speaking about her dog's bravery she said: 'They couldn't warn us about the rockets or missiles. The first time it happened Tosha started nudging us with his head in the direction of the basement. Ludmila Koren with her dog Tosha whose acute hearing offered warnings to her family after the air raid sirens in her locality were damaged. Picture: Larry Cummins "He heard the missiles when they were further away because a dog's hearing is better. There were 10 people in the house including friends and family. "The first time Tosha did this we didn't know what was wrong with him. Then we realised he was acting this way because of the missiles. We gathered in the basements, hiding without water or electricity, simply because it was the only option.' Ludmila, who hails from Chernigov, added that escaping unrest in Ukraine back in April 2022 was an extremely harrowing experience for Tosha. 'A bus journey that should have taken two hours took eight. We had to stop so many times because of the explosions. You could see all the animal owners clinging dearly to their pets. Tosha was so close to my chest. "We travelled to the Polish border and took a boat from France. He was so stressed from the experience that his fur starting falling out. Some of the 123 Ukrainian war refugees who are to be moved in August and have been told they cannot bring their pets with them. Picture: Larry Cummins "On the boat from France he was shaking from head to toe. A vet on board was able to give him a pill because it was the only thing that calmed him down.' Ludmila, who has an adult son named Alex, said she refuses to be separated from her pet. 'He came to me two months before the war and I really feel this was meant to be. I first heard about him online because nobody else at the shelter wanted him. Natalia Husieva and her niece Yana with their pet guinea pig. Picture: Larry Cummins "I knitted him clothes before he came to me even though I didn't know his size. They fit him perfectly. When he arrived in my house for the first time he went straight to his water bowl. It was like he had been with me forever. "I fell in love with him the first day I saw. He is like another child to me and I refuse to be without him. We are looking for alternative accommodation but I would rather sleep on the streets with my dog than live in a house without him.' Read More EU plans would extend right for 4m Ukrainians to stay in bloc until 2027
