Ukrainian woman flees to Taiwan to escape war, starts citizens’ initiative

Interview Subject

Katya Leliukh is an MA student studying inter-Asia cultural studies at Taiwan’s National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. In early March, she left her hometown, Kyiv, by car as the Russian army sought to take the city. She traveled from one city to another across Europe before temporarily settling down in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. She was a recipient of a special scholarship for Ukrainian scholars and students by Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s top research institute. She co-founded the social media platform, Ukrainian Voices, to introduce Ukraine to Taiwanese people. On Facebook and Instagram, the team published posts in Mandarin Chinese and English on topics ranging from Ukrainian women serving in the army to the history of the Ukrainian language.

Background Information

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, mainstream media have drawn parallels between the geo-political situation between Taiwan and Ukraine. Both democracies live under the threat of an authoritarian neighbor. Ukraine, as most countries across the globe, doesn’t have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Ukrainians number around 200 in Taiwan, according to government figures. But in Taipei, crowds including Ukrainians, Taiwanese, and citizens of several other European countries have gathered since the beginning of the war in front of Russia’s de facto embassy.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — I fled my hometown two weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. I encountered scenes I had only seen in movies. By April, I settled into my studies in Taiwan, feeling much safer than I did back home.

Sitting in the classroom at my university, my eyes fixated on the screen, which showed a film. I cannot remember what it was about. It was October 17th and my mind drifted to Kyiv, which faced increasing attacks by Russia.

During recess, I sent tons of messages on Telegram to my friends. Still in Kyiv, I wanted to make sure they were safe. Some responded with videos of themselves hiding in the darkness of bomb shelters. I could hear the loud explosions in the background. In that moment, I somehow believed I would feel better being back home.

Fleeing Kyiv amid war, young woman leaves family behind

Prior to the war, I led a normal life, working for a major Ukrainian corporation as a public relations director. As a 20-something-year-old with an apartment, a car, and a steady job, I felt confident about myself. When air raid sirens began ringing out one day, it took me a while to believe a war started right outside my window.

In that moment, my father’s home in the north of Kyiv fell under Russian occupation. I considered getting him and the family out by car. However, with Russian soldiers roaming about asking questions, my father said I could not help even if I stayed. My grandmother took my cat and insisted I escape for my own safety.

Everyone, including most of my friends, fled to the western part of Ukraine at the beginning of the war. I decided to hit the road in my Nissan Rogue, despite a broken signal and half-empty tank of gas. I went through many checkpoints before arriving at my first destination in Ivano-Frankivsk. Bila Tservka, a town I stayed in briefly, got hit by shells one day after my departure.

In early March, I crossed the border into Poland to stay with friends in Warsaw. After a whole day in line, Polish authorities handed me a document naming me a refugee from Ukraine. I did not read into it. To me, it served as a piece of paper to get me over the border.

After a long journey, Ukrainian refugee ends up in Taiwan

Many Ukrainian women walked thousands of kilometers to the borders, bringing their children with them. I felt lucky to have a car to drive, and to escape the war on my own. My journey may sound like an adventure, but for many, the escape proved torturous.

In Warsaw, I spent my days working remotely for my former employer. Meanwhile, I looked for opportunities that would allow me to live somewhere permanently. As a political science major in college, I applied for a three-month scholarship in Taiwan designed for Ukrainians during the war. A friend’s friend suggested it. At the time, people expressed so much hospitality to Ukrainians, aware of the raging war in our country.

While I had many options, I felt surprised to be selected for a competitive program in Taiwan. I thought it afforded me a chance to study after years of working in Ukraine. When the scholarship neared an end, I applied for another to a university to formally start my master’s degree. It feels good not to be a “refugee” anymore.

Ukrainians find their voices in Taiwan

For a couple months, the situation seemed to be under control in Kyiv. Then, when almost half of the city’s electricity went off, I became worried. I set up a group chat with all my friends, so I did not have to text them individually. The Russian army struck my hometown again in October.

Sometimes, it felt morally wrong not to be in Ukraine, supporting my country and economy. I have come to terms with that idea today. I realized I can do more abroad by building Ukrainian Voices, a citizens’ initiative I started with fellow Ukrainians in Taiwan. With this platform, we can help our country. Moreover, we feel seen in Taiwan.

Taiwan and Ukraine have a lot in common as democracies. I recognize a demand for stories from Ukraine amongst the Taiwanese people. They do not know Ukraine and want us to fill the gap in knowledge and understanding. Our platform creates a dialogue between these two countries, which do not know each other well.

Both countries face tensions within their societies, but the Ukrainian people have truly united in the face of a common enemy. We leave behind the differences that once tore us apart as people because we belong to something bigger now. The people of Taiwan see this. We also have common histories.

In 2014, when Ukrainians gathered on Maidan Square in the Revolution of Dignity, Taiwanese people took to the streets to protest against a trade agreement with China. In my work, I have the opportunity to shed light on how our countries remain similar. We recognize the importance of people banding together.