‘I’m proud of him, he’s very courageous and very brave’

LIUDMYLA Petrova’s son is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded on the frontline. Last May, Arkadiy left his computing course at Edinburgh University and travelled to Ukraine to join the army and fight for his country. Liudmyla, who lives in Annan with her three other children, said: “His heart was broken, and he felt a responsibility to fight. “It was absolutely his choice to go. He gave me no clue at all that he was thinking of returning to Ukraine. “He came home from university during the holiday; I was doing my night shift and in the morning I couldn’t find him. “He never responded on the phone for five days. He did not say to anybody about his plans. “He messaged me to say that he was in the army training centre, my heart was broken. “I cannot sleep, even now. I’m always awake thinking about him. “This is his choice. I’m proud of him, he’s very courageous and very brave.” The 20-year-old was injured in January while fighting on the frontline in the Luhansk region. Liudmyla added: “They met some very strong Russian soldiers. “He was wounded but managed to hide underground. He stayed there all night. He got out at 5 am, gave himself first aid and walked four miles to the first Ukrainian village. “He underwent surgery on his heart, liver, lungs, arms and legs. “He’s now waiting for another surgery as he has shrapnel behind his knee. He is getting better, and he is still working there, in the army.” Originally from Odesa, Liudmyla was living with her husband and four children in Kyiv in February 2022. The family left on March 5 for Bucharest, Romania. She said: “It was a difficult decision but protecting our family was our priority. “The fighting was right outside our building, and we could tell it was no longer safe. “It was a terrifying time.” They received their UK visas in early April. At first, they settled in Kirkcudbright, before finding a house in Annan. Prior to moving to Scotland, Liudmyla worked as the head of a private bank cluster in Kyiv. Since August 2023 she has been working as a carer at Lydiafield Care Home. She said: “It’s good, friendly and it’s a very good team there, I love it a lot. “I’m also doing ESOL at Dumfries and Galloway College. This year I’m doing the last level, so it’s possible (a return to banking in the future).” Liudmyla added: “I have had a wonderful experience in Scotland. “The people in Annan and in Kirkcudbright have been incredibly friendly and supportive. “They have made me and my kids feel welcome. That means so much, especially after everything we have been through.” Like other Ukrainians in the region and across the United Kingdom, her future remains uncertain. Liudmyla said: “It’s been going on for a long time, since 2014. So, it’s hard to be optimistic. “I don’t think it will end soon. I hope so, of course – everyone in Ukraine hopes for peace. “For now, I try to focus on what I can control here. I have to keep going, for my kids and for my own future.”