"Ukraine is my home, but I will always remain British": the story of Ellie, who has lived in Izmail for 6 years

Ellie first came to Ukraine in 2015 to simply visit friends. She didn’t plan to stay here — the minibus from Poland without air conditioning, the broken roads, and the heat didn’t make the best impression. But over time, everything changed: the Briton met a Ukrainian man, married him, and has now been living in Izmail, a small town in the south of the Odessa region, for over six years.

In an interview with LIGA.Life, Ellie tells what impressed her about Ukrainian culture, how she adapted to local life, why she doesn't feel like a Ukrainian, despite her love for the country, how she copes with emotional challenges during the war — and why she still wants to live here.

Moving to Ukraine and first impressions

At first I thought this would be my first and last visit.