With World Refugee Day on 20 June, we speak to Ukrainian teenager Anastasiia Pyshna who has moved to Australia and started life again on the North Shore.
For as long as she can remember, Anastasiia Pyshna, 14, dreamt of going to music college in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and becoming a Hollywood actress.
A talented musician, pianist and guitarist, Anastasiia grew up in Kremenchuk where she lived with her mother, Tetiana, and father, Sergiy, who ran a jewellery shop.
She played the main role of Thumbelina at the palace of culture in her hometown in 2022. In the Hans Christian Andersen book, Swallow travels with Thumbelina to the prince’s homeland, a country where beautiful elves live, it’s always warm, and they find many good friends.
“We could not have imagined that this year, the fairytale would become so prophetic for us,” says Anastasiia.
A month later, their celebrations were shattered when Anastasiia’s North Shore-based Aunt Yuliia and Uncle Matvii called, telling them to pack immediately and join them in Australia as war was imminent.
They stayed put, praying it wouldn’t happen. But the family’s world was blown apart by a 5am phone call on February 24 when Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
“It was the second scariest day of my life,” Anastasiia says. “I wanted to take everything I loved, but nothing fitted in my small backpack.
“I thought about the homeless cats that live in our yard and my heart sank, because how will they survive without me, who will feed them now?
Anastasiia and Tetiana have been enjoying getting to know the Lower North Shore.
“I thought that there are so many things that I still want to do here in this beautiful place that this is my home, where I was born and raised. And what about my teachers, music, friends?”
Anastasiia recalls how their house was always in darkness so the troops wouldn’t see the lights. They slept in itchy heavy winter clothes in case they had to run at a moment’s notice.
As the city collapsed and petrol and medication ran out, Tetiana insisted on fleeing to Australia, which they had visited once when Yuliia and Matvii got married. Sergiy was hesitant as it was so dangerous.
Eventually, her aunt’s tears and pleas begging them to travel to safety prevailed. Heartbreakingly, only Tetiana and Anastasiia left for Australia, leaving their large family behind. Ukrainian law banned men ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country while others, including her grandmothers, categorically refused to leave.
Anastasia will start at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School in January.
Mother and daughter braved a 28-hour bus ride to the Romanian border, passing through multiple checkpoints, and arrived in Sydney six days later.
Sergiy is still in Ukraine helping rebuild parts of cities destroyed in the war, while his mother who stayed behind to take care of her parents, sews camouflage netting. Other members of the family are fighting for their country and helping with humanitarian aid.
Phone and internet lines are often down, but Anastasiia and Tetiana speak to their family as often as they can and send audio messages.
In what is good news for the family, one of the plucky teenager’s fairytales has finally become a reality – she has been awarded a scholarship at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and will start in January.
Andrew Mecinsky, Ukrainian Council of NSW is helping displaced Ukrainians settle in Australia.
While treading the boards and Hollywood may beckon, Anastasiia’s biggest dream is for peace in Ukraine and to be reunited with her family.
“Never give up and always love what you have now, because it is very important,” she says.
“For now, my mother and I live in a warm country. Where fairy elves really live, apparently,” she says. “And Aunt Yulia is like the Swallow in Thumbelina. Who helped us come here and did everything to save us. And the good prince Matvii, who became so dear to us, and his entire large family.”
Andrew Mecinsky from the Ukrainian Council of NSW is helping displaced Ukrainians, including Anastasiia and Tetiana.
“They have adapted so well in terms of the language and lifestyle,” he says. “And knowing their family is in Ukraine … their resilience is amazing.”
Andrew is working with the Department of Home Affairs to help Ukrainians obtain humanitarian visas, setting up a database of Australian host families and Ukrainian refugees, and linking them to support services, migrant education programs, English language classes, trauma counselling and jobs.
Anastasiia, pictured in a traditional Ukrainian dress, at Lidcombe St Andrews Ukrainian Language School.
“There is the ever-present stress knowing their loved ones back in Ukraine are at risk of death every single day,” he says.
“We urge anyone who can help to get in touch with us – be it employment, accommodation, donations, or anything which may help.”
For more information, visit The Ukrainian Council of NSW (UCNSW) at ucnsw.org/provide_help/
By Niki Waldegrave