Serhijs, a refugee from the occupied territory of Kherson, recounts his journey to safety and life in Latvia, highlighting the struggles that come with adapting to a new environment. He and his family initially escaped to a city in Odesa, but continued to face danger, prompting their move to Latvia. The article is part of a series that features the stories of Ukrainians who have fled to Latvia due to the conflict, illustrating the challenges they encounter as they seek refuge away from home.

The article discusses the dire circumstances Serhijs and his family endured, including the hardships of living in a war zone, where he had to work amidst nightly bombings and the constant threat of aerial attacks. His children spent two years in a bomb shelter, a situation he describes as unacceptable for their childhood. Now in Latvia, he reflects on the changes in their lives, including their sense of safety after leaving a violent environment.

This ongoing series aims to humanize the experiences of refugees by providing personal accounts of their lives and challenges in adapting to a new life while dealing with the trauma of war. The narrative encapsulates the resilience of individuals like Serhijs and underscores the broader societal implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, especially as these stories resonate within Latvia, a country now hosting a significant number of Ukrainian refugees.