Dentist Still In Ukraine Helps Refugees Find Shelter
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- Published: Wednesday, 16 March 2022 09:38
- Written by Chris Tapper
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A Ukrainian dentist has joined the effort to help fleeing refugees find safe shelter with European families.
Dr Nazariy Mykhaylyuk, who worked in a dental clinic in Ivano-Frankivsk in the west of Ukraine before the Russian invasion told Fox News “For us, we don’t see any other way. The only way is actually to help these people because they are in more critical condition than we are.”
An estimated two million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February. Many refugees have fled to the country’s western border with Poland.
Fox News reported that Dr Mykhaylyuk and his family woke up to the sound of Russian missiles in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 24th.
The news channel said “They were in their car 15 minutes later.”
The dentist told Fox News that the family left behind their apartment and their business, adding “Everything in Kyiv because we understood that the most important at this moment is actually our life.”
Fox News said that Dr Mykhaylyuk, a specialist in indirect restorative dentistry, has used the many contacts he has made from lecturing around the world in order to put refugees in touch with families willing to host them.
Soon after the dentist and his family left Kyiv, Fox News reported that Europeans Dr Mykhaylyuk had connected with over the years began contacting him with offers of help.
The news service said “Mykhaylyuk simultaneously started receiving requests to help Ukrainian refugees.” The dentist has since been putting fleeing Ukrainians in touch with contacts in Europe, who subsequently make arrangements to help them directly.
"This is how we’ve put them in contact with refugee families," Mykhaylyuk told Fox News. "For example, like today, I received a phone call from Spain where more than 30 families are ready to accept the refugees right in their houses."
Dr Mykhaylyuk, who before the invasion worked with his father Bogdan, a dental technician, is currently sheltered in a hotel in western Ukraine, where many other refugees are staying.
Dr Nazariy Mykhaylyuk (left) and his father Bogdan pictured on their M Vision Study Resort Website
He told Fox News "As you know, many people are leaving Ukraine, especially women and kids, and they don’t have any place to go."
"They actually lost everything. In one moment, everything just turned upside down. So what they actually have is only their suitcase. That’s it."
"That’s why they don’t have any support when they go to Europe," he continued. "No one is waiting for them,” Dr Mykhaylyuk added.
Before the Russian invasion, Dr Mykhaylyuk and his technician father ran popular advanced restorative and implant courses through their company M Vision Study Resort, in English, Russian and Ukrainian.
"Our nation, we are always ready to support each other. I’m doing what I can in my specific position," Mykhaylyuk told Fox News. "I’m positively surprised that so many people were ready to help" and support "us with everything they can."
"We are very happy to be helpful, and we are ready to help all of those who need it," he continued.
Anyone interested in offering Ukrainian refugees shelter in the UK can register their interest here.
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