Ukrainian refugees fleeing war battle with French bureaucracy
Ukrainian refugees who arrive to France face the daunting task of not only coming to a new country where they do not speak the language but also of trying to understand the complicated bureaucracy. In many cases, additional help from volunteers and online community groups is the only way to fully navigate the process.
When Olena Kondratova arrived in Paris in August 2022 after having fled the Russian invasion, she found shelter in temporary accommodation provided by French social services. The small apartment, where she lived with two other Ukrainian women, was two hours away from her new university, but it meant safety from the bombs raining down on her native city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.
When Olena Kondratova arrived in Paris in August 2022 after having fled the Russian invasion, she found shelter in temporary accommodation provided by French social services. The small apartment, where she lived with two other Ukrainian women, was two hours away from her new university, but it meant safety from the bombs raining down on her native city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.
July 4, 2023 -
Cristina Coellen
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Issue 3-4 2023MagazineStories and ideas
A scene from 2022, with volunteers helping Ukrainian refugees at the railway station in Paris. Ukrainians rely on the volunteers not only for housing but also to navigate the complicated bureaucracy. Photo: BooFamily / Shutterstock
