Ukrainian woman chillingly recounts her incredible journey to safety in Longford: ‘I expected to be killed at any second’

“I expected to be killed at any second. Death was all around us like a thick, dense fog.” The words of Marina Kacharava as she addressed Friday’s powerful and emotional 'Justice for Ukraine' event in St Mel's Cathedral and recounted how she fled her own country to find safety and refuge in Longford. 

The Longford community were out in their hundreds as they showed their support and solidarity with Ukraine.

'Justice for Ukraine' saw moving performances from ‘The Main Street Singers’ - a group of Ukrainians now living on Longford’s Main Street, the St Mel’s Children’s Choir and the St Joseph’s NS Choir. 

Organised by Alla Shmygovska, Tiernan Dolan and John Farrell the evening also featured dance, photography and art, with John providing some background on the Longford inspired ‘Little Steps for Ukraine’ initiative. 

Marina brought those gathered in the cathedral and watching online back to February 24, 2022 when her world was ‘turned upside down’.

She gave a chilling and incredible account of the horror and devastation as she made her escape from her home town of Bucha, driving across the continent of Europe in her Mini Cooper before arriving safely in Longford. Her car was parked alongside the steps of St Mel’s Cathedral on Friday evening, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Here is Marina’s story:

“After many setbacks, my dream was finally happening. New apartment in beautiful Bucha, my dream car, a Mini Cooper and I was happy to be busy working as an accountant and my daughter Teya working as a journalist. All was good.

My main concern was that Covid had left me a bit weak. That all changed when the Russians invaded. I never thought it would happen.

Clouds of Russian helicopters darkened the sky. Explosions shook every wall, machine guns constantly firing, electricity and heating gone and little extra food.

Never-ending lines of tanks appeared from every direction like an invasion of ugly, nasty creatures crawling towards you and then they started spitting fire. Massive explosions and fires and smoke. Local schools and shops were suddenly in flames.

When the Russian soldiers came, they shot at everything. People who went for a smoke or food or to shelters were mown like grass.

Once when there were a few moments lull, I went to peep out. But I was spotted. Bullets smashed through my window and I felt one just whizz past my hair.

To try to stay in contact, I used to crawl down to my car in the middle of the night to charge my phone. I used to lie flat on the floor of the car and then crawl back up.

There was word of Green (safe) corridors but they weren't safe. When the time came we were all just too scared to move. Death was all around us like a thick, dense fog and we were lost. Anyone moving was shot dead like a rat.

I scribbled my name and details on pieces of paper and put them in different pockets so that my body could be identified for Teya, my daughter. I expected to be killed at any second.

Then somehow very early on March 9,Teya made contact by phone. She said a Green corridor was being opened later at 11am.

I decided to try to escape. Even though I was only learning to drive, I was asked to take a pregnant lady and her husband. She had tried for 16 years and was finally pregnant (she promised she'd name the baby after me) and I couldn't leave my dear 80 year old neighbour with my two cats and piles of clothes. We all decided to go for it only to be ordered back and told by the Russians to wait another agonising 5 hours.

It was a journey worse than hell. 

I wrote CHILDREN on my car to give us protection but each side of the road was littered with cars riddled with large bullet holes and on the roadside were bodies scattered and upturned baby buggies and written on those cars was the word CHILDREN. I had been so naive.

The journey from Bucha to Kyiv which should take 30 minutes took 10 agonising, horrendous hours. Tragically, due to the ferocious stress, the lady lost her baby. My 80 year old neighbour was met by her son and my daughter met me.

Every time I woke from a deep sleep, Teya was sitting silently stroking my hand.

Later she went to work but her office and the block was hit by a Russian missile. She was lucky and was immediately evacuated.

Luck again when I met a Ukrainian lady, Alina, married to a Polish man and both were living in Mullingar. She had returned to Kyiv to visit her family but now wanted to escape.

So, Alina and myself and my two cats started to drive to the border with Poland. A friend drove behind and with his mobile directed me to the border and at the same time gave me driving instructions.

Alina stayed with her in-laws in Poland and advised me to drive to Ireland because the people were friendly and I would be safe there.

Little driving experience and my Mini and with Bublik and Masya my cats, I started to drive alone to Ireland.

Berlin, Hamburg, Belgium, Holland and France. The people there let me rest and sleep and then Cherbourg and the boat which brought me to Ireland and now here I am in Longford."

Both Marina's parents were killed by the Russians. Her daughter is now safe and her apartment in Bucha was destroyed by the Russians after she escaped.