In early March 2022, as Russia’s war of aggression led many to flee Ukraine, Liubomyr, 16, followed his parents' advice to seek safety and embarked on a train to Poland, ultimately reaching Prague. There, he found crucial support from the CEELI Institute, which helped him navigate his new life. More than two years later, CEELI caught up with Liubomyr to hear firsthand about his challenging journey from Lviv and his experiences since arriving in Prague.
When recounting his travel from Lviv to Prague, Liubomyr first recalls the intense conditions he faced: “There was, on every single piece of land, piece of floor… every single square centimeter, there was at least two people standing with their bags.” The train itself was “really old and rusty, as if they just took it from the scrap yard.” The journey was fraught with delays and overcrowded conditions, crying children, and exhausted travelers.
“I was standing there and it was really cold, especially in the night because the temperature started to drop, and everybody was really tired, kids especially, everybody's crying, arguing with each other, dogs are barking, cats are meowing, birds are chirping, and not in a good way. And what happens next, we're stopping somewhere in the middle of nowhere, basically it's just pitch black, it's just void. The only thing I can see like a small dot, which was the moon, which barely lit up everything.”
The train journey was not just physically taxing but also emotionally draining. Liubomyr noted the constant struggle to find space and the uncertainty of the situation. “People were standing so close together that you could barely move,” he said. The delays added to the stress, making the journey feel interminable.
Despite the harsh conditions, there were instances of support and solidarity along the way. Volunteers at one of the train stops provided warm drinks and snacks to the passengers. An employee at the train station in Przemyśl, Poland, was distributing free tickets to Prague. Liubomyr played with children who were distressed by the long delays and lack of activity, offering some distraction and comfort during the journey—although he shared that their games caused some further delays as one of the kids could not be found for half an hour.
Upon arriving in Prague, Liubomyr could stay with a CEELI Institute staff member who offered him essential support. “The support she gave me, providing basics like food (…), the place to live for free, that was absolutely great and generous from her,” he recalled.
The CEELI Institute played a crucial role in his resettlement. “On the second day I was here, the CEELI employees provided me with all the needed assistance—money, insurance, place to live, place to study,” he said. CEELI helped him find a Czech language school, despite his initial difficulties. “I was completely new to the language… I had no idea what was happening,” he admitted. Nevertheless, he recognized the importance of these efforts in helping him integrate into his new environment.
Over time, Liubomyr began to build a new life. He found a sense of community through local organizations and groups. “I finally found a lot of friends… I started meeting new people through a Ukrainian scout organization and a Bible church,” he noted. “This kind of connection is crucial for me,” he added.
Liubomyr also reconnected with his passion for music, explaining his guitar was one of the very few items he managed to grab and take from Ukraine. “I realized I needed to play the guitar, even if I’m not playing it too much,” he said. He became involved with local musical groups, including the Bible Church's music activities and a Ukrainian children’s choir, where he also contributed with his bass voice.
Today, Liubomyr is pursuing his ambition to become a car mechanic. “Ever since I was young, I felt attached to cars,” he shared. He enrolled in a vocational school in Prague, motivated by a desire to work on internal combustion engines. “I want to work on cars, especially internal combustion cars, as there will still be people wanting to maintain them even after potential future bans on exhaust cars,” he explained. His decision to become a car mechanic is also driven by his wish to support Ukraine. “If the war doesn’t stop by the time I graduate, I’m thinking of joining the army as a mechanic to help with their vehicles,” he added.
Liubomyr is one of the refugees from Ukraine the CEELI Institute supported at the outbreak of the war. Today, CEELI continues its support through its fellowship program for Ukrainian civil society activists and ongoing training for judges and lawyers focused on human rights and anti-corruption.
