Our Story

Greetings to you!

Allow us to introduce ourselves. We’re a Ukrainian family who came to the USA seeking a safe haven due to the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Our family consists of six members: I am Volodymyr, my wife is Jenya, and we have four children. Our eldest son, Illia, is 16; Elizabeth is 14; Susan is 12, and our youngest, Samuel, is 10 years old.

We’d like to share our journey from Ukraine to the USA, specifically to Saint Louis.

On February 24, 2022, at 5 a.m., we found ourselves in Kyiv, Ukraine, when a full-scale war erupted. While we were aware of the constant conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine, that day witnessed the war spreading like ocean waves, engulfing all the cities in our country.

In the wake of the conflict, and after spending several nights in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, we made the decision not to return to Poltava. Instead, we headed to Western Ukraine, closer to the border with Poland. Accompanied by our children in a damaged car, we embarked on a week-long journey to the Volyn region, where we reunited with more relatives and church members. Initially planning to stay and assist refugees from the eastern part of Ukraine, we were forced to alter our plans when Western Ukraine also came under attack. Together with three other families, we made the collective decision to move to Wroclaw, Poland, to ensure the safety of our family and children while continuing to serve Ukrainian refugees.

After spending three weeks in Poland, we realized the challenges of survival and providing for our family in that country. Faced with high prices, no social benefits, low wages, and a weak church, we sought other options. Prayer led us to Germany, where the Lutheran Church offered us more spacious housing and social assistance for our children. For the past two weeks, we have been residing in Chemnitz, Germany, participating in the ministries of local churches and connecting with other Ukrainian refugees.

Acknowledging the difficulty of returning to Ukraine due to the ongoing war and destruction in our hometown of Kharkiv, we explored the possibility of living in an English-speaking country. Thanks to an invitation from our friend Sergei Marchenko, senior pastor of Chatham Bible Church, we arrived in St. Louis, MO, on July 1, 2022, under the “Uniting for Ukraine” program for refugees from Ukraine. As refugees, we believe we can continue to fulfill God’s mission and be blessings to our new country and society.

Now, we find ourselves living in Hazelwood in a missionary home provided by the Christian Church. I have secured a job as a packer at an Amazon warehouse in St. Peters, while my wife works as a baker at Collins Bakery in Clayton. All our children attend different public schools in the Hazelwood School District.

We have become members of Chatham Bible Church and forged new friendships in the USA. Despite embracing our new community, we remain proud Ukrainians. Six months ago, we initiated meetings for Ukrainians at the Shelter cafe, aiming to build a new Ukrainian community, foster communication, and offer mutual support. Twice a month, we gather to connect with other Ukrainians. Recognizing the spiritual needs of our fellow Ukrainians, we started organizing the Ukrainian Shelter Church three months ago. Our goal is to provide Ukrainians with the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and study God’s Word in both their native Ukrainian language and the new English language.

Warm regards, Volodymyr and Jenya