Zoia: “Now, it is my turn to give back”
Zoia: “Now, it is my turn to give back”
Zoia, 64, fled Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine in March 2022 with her beloved cat Tosia after a missile landed near their home. A former financial and logistics professional with a stable life and successful career, Zoia was forced to navigate a long and difficult route through many countries to eventually reach Italy, where she lived for 9 months as a refugee. Despite the kindness and support she received abroad, Zoia longed to return home, and by the end of 2022, she made the decision to go back to Mykolaiv. Tosia remains her loyal feline friend — and the quiet force that gave her strength to keep going.
Interviewed by Oleksii Barkov, UNHCR Ukraine.
“Before the war, I had a full life — two degrees, a long career in finance and logistics, a good pension, and my own apartment. I was independent and confident. My life was settled. I never thought I would live through something like this, not to mention become a refugee.
When the full-scale invasion began, I was at work since early morning. I remember my colleague saying, “There are explosions,” and I told him not to joke. But it was real. That week was terrifying. When a nearby area was bombed, I knew I couldn’t stay. I left with a friend, her daughter, and our two cats. Mine is Tosia — my beloved cat, who was 13 years old at the time. I didn’t even think twice. I couldn’t imagine leaving without him.
“I had the smallest suitcase, the tiniest one. It is even funny now, that everything I took with me, I never used eventually. I don’t even know how I packed. And the most important, valuable things, I didn’t take them.
We didn’t know exactly where we were going — or rather, how we would get there. We thought of going to Italy, to my friend’s sister. No tickets, no clear destination, just fear and hurry. We traveled through Odesa, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria … and finally reached Rome. It was a blur of buses, old trains, crowded stations and shelters, sleeping on cold floors. Tosia didn’t eat or drink for two days until we reached Bratislava in Slovakia. He was silent the entire way. He was so scared — and so was I.
In Italy, people were incredibly kind. It was beautiful. Clean towels, warm meals, polite strangers. At first, we thought we’d be back in a week. I didn’t even want to unpack my suitcase. But then we realized that it wasn’t going to be that easy. I realized tourism and emigration are two very different things.
Volunteers helped us, gave us food, shelter, medical care — even for Tosia. He received a new passport, vaccinations, and medication that even finally cured a chronic condition he had for years. I’m still grateful for that. But even with all the support, I wasn’t myself anymore. I couldn’t work. I didn’t know the language. I felt passive, like I was fading away.
There was such a sense of despair. We were glued to our phones. Honestly, I didn’t see the beauty of Italy until much later — not after a day, not a week, not even a month. At first, we just lived through our phones, checking what was happening in Mykolaiv, what the situation was. It was hard.
In Italy, I realized I didn’t need much — but I did need purpose. I wasn’t living, I was just existing. And I missed Ukraine with every cell of my body. When the city of Kherson was retaken by the Government of Ukraine [in November 2022], I knew it was time. People said I was crazy to return, but I didn’t care. I was going home.
“Tosia is still by my side — strong, proud, and just as loyal as ever. He kept me grounded when the world fell apart. He reminded me who I am.”
“Coming back to Mykolaiv was emotional. My apartment was just as I had left it. And Tosia — oh, you should have seen him. He walked into each room, looked at me, jumped on his favorite window-sill like a king. It was as if he was saying, “This is mine. We are home.” I felt exactly the same.
Everything was covered in dust. I scrubbed every surface. Then the first thing I did was prepare for the next blackout, setting up backup lights and buying batteries. I didn’t want to leave ever again.
After returning, I couldn’t just sit around. I needed to do something. I started donating everything I no longer needed that much: clothes, dishes, linens. And then I found work with a humanitarian organization. At first, I just wanted to help. But now, I see it as part of who I am. I support older people, people with disabilities, vulnerable families. I coordinate support in four regions of Ukraine. I do it because I understand — anyone can lose everything overnight. I did. But I was helped, and now it’s my turn to give back.
Tosia is still by my side — strong, proud, and just as loyal as ever. He kept me grounded when the world fell apart. He reminded me who I am. I didn’t choose to come back. I was always going to return.”
Zoia is working with UNHCR’s partner organization “The Tenth of April” as a coordinator for social facilitators for vulnerable groups, including older persons and people with disabilities.
