More than 220.000 Ukrainian refugees have fled to the UK since the war began February 2022, according to the Parliament’s report from June 2026.
While Ukrainians have to flee, Donald Trump’s newest tactic for settling peace is to sell a piece of Ukrainian territory to Russia, whilst not including president Volodymyr Zelenskyy or other European leaders in the deal.
In Oxford, the Ukrainian Education Centre is working on preparing for the future.
Alla Skrynnikova is head of the Oxford centre, which is part of the global network with multiple Ukrainian Education hubs all over the world. In Oxford there are between 40 and 50 people who regularly attend events, often held in Westgate library or other spaces in the city centre.
The project started over three years ago in London and today is spread across the country.
“It is all about lifelong learning, not just for students or children, but for people of any age”, Skrynnikova says.
The centre arranges both online and offline events. The hope is, according to Skrynnikova, to create a bridge between different people, where they can share experiences and help each other.
Skrynnikova herself came to Oxford from Kiev, where she had her own business and held a PHD in organic chemistry. Now she works for the Ukranian Education centre, does charity work and has just opened a new company in the UK.
“Most Ukrainian people came here after the war began. Some struggle with adjusting to speaking and writing English”, Skrynnikova says.
To solve the problem, the Ukrainian Education hub helps them adjust to the language and rules, or how to get a job in the UK.
Skrynnikova also believes that the hub is a place where Ukrainians can connect with British people, and at the same time feel connected to their Ukrainian background.
The hub also operates as a cultural space, where they arrange poetry evenings with Ukranian poets or visits from Ukrainian journalists, sought to inspire people to be confident and guide them on how to use their voices.
“We try to not forget our culture. Many of the children only speak English now, but many parents want their children to remember and learn our language”, Skrynnikova says.
During the last year, Skrynnikova has seen young people coming together and helping each other with choosing what to study and exchanging experiences.
“In the future, we want to organise events for young people on how to be leaders. It is not always easy for young Ukrainian people, so preparing them for the future is important” she adds.