Anastacia Kozmina and Oleksiyy Danko were awoken by the sound of bombing in Ukraine, which prompted their decision to leave the country. Joining the eight million Ukrainian refugees worldwide, the couple was faced with the daunting task of finding a new place to live and work.
Eventually, they made their way to the United Kingdom, where they were warmly welcomed by the supportive locals. Despite encountering difficulties finding employment, they persevered and established their own enterprise.
In Ukraine, Anastasia worked as a lawyer and Oleksiyy was a qualified pharmacist. In addition, they earned extra income by dry-cleaning furniture. However, when the bombing began on February 24th, 2022, Anastacia was resolute in her decision to leave the warzone.
The couple had acquaintances who had relocated to England, and so they posted a sponsorship appeal on Facebook. They were eventually sponsored and arrived in Southport, Merseyside. Their initial period in the UK was challenging, with Anastacia forgoing her beauty regimen for six months to feel safe and secure.
Anastacia attempted to secure employment as a lawyer, but the differing legal system in the UK rendered that impossible. Consequently, the couple utilized their dry-cleaning skills to begin a furniture cleaning business. They distributed leaflets and were astonished to receive calls from individuals wanting items cleaned that were not dirty at all.
On one occasion, Oleksiyy cleaned a small sofa for a lady, who was so impressed with their service that she gifted them some beautiful flowers. The couple is optimistic about the future of their enterprise, stating that in England, they have the opportunity to grow and develop. Their story is just one of many Ukrainian refugees finding a way to earn a livelihood in a new country.
