Foto: © Eleonora Zaitseva
When Eleonora Zaitseva first visited Croatia nearly 20 years ago to enjoy the beauty of the Adriatic coast with her husband, little did she know that she would return to our country as a refugee in 2022.
In Kyiv, she lived what she considered a “normal life” until February 24, 2022 when the streets were shattered by the deafening echoes of alarms and bombs. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fear and panic gripped the nation, prompting millions of people to embark on an uncertain journey in search of safety.“ We knew the situation was serious, but we held onto hope that diplomacy would prevail,” Eleonora reflects.
The intense attacks on Kyiv in October 2022 shattered her world. Determined to find safety, she embarked on a solitary journey, leaving her familiar life and husband behind. With courage, she boarded a train to Lviv, a city near the Polish border, and then continued by bus to Croatia.
Since fleeing from the war in Ukraine, Eleonora has found safety in Croatia. Photo: ©UNHCR/Arijana Kladar Terzić
Upon arriving in Croatia, Eleonora settled in collective refugee accommodation in Vrbovec, a town 50 km from Zagreb. Until recently, she owned a hair salon in Kyiv. Today, she finds herself a refugee in a country where she doesn’t speak the language. Eager to work, her first step was to learn Croatian. She posted a job-seeking ad on Facebook, and the owner of a hair salon in Zagreb reached out to her. “When the war in Ukraine started, I wanted to help someone. Eleonora didn’t speak Croatian at first, but we managed to understand each other,” said Renata Kranjčević Matić, Eleonora’s boss.
“Work provides me with a focus which allows me not to think about the war.”
“Work provides me with a focus which allows me not to think about the war,” emphasizes Eleonora. Work not only provides Eleonora with financial stability but also serves as a welcome distraction from the distressing news she receives from her homeland. Over the past year, she has worked part-time alongside Renata. Learning Croatian and attending other courses have consumed much of her time. However, Eleonora’s language skills have significantly improved, allowing her to communicate with clients and contribute to the salon’s cheerful ambiance.
Eleonora Zaitseva with her boss and colleague in a hair salon in Zagreb. Photo: ©UNHCR/Arijana Kladar Terzić
Eleonora became close friends with her colleagues from the salon. Photo: ©UNHCR/Arijana Kladar Terzić
Eleonora volunteers in Varaždinske Toplice where she helps people with disabilities from Ukraine. Photo: © Eleonora Zaitseva
Foto: © Eleonora Zaitseva
In Renata, she has found not only a good boss but also a friend—someone with whom she shares laughter, tears, joy, challenges, and a deeper understanding of Croatian customs and delicacies. “Now I see her as a sister. We built a friendship that will last a lifetime. That feeling when you give someone a chance for a new life is indescribable”, says Renata.
Regardless of all the challenges Eleonora faced, one thought consistently fuelled her strength: the hope that someday she would embrace her husband once more.
“Sometimes I’m very sad. We in Ukraine call it nakrivaye. Sometimes I wish to pack my things and go back to my husband.” Despite her initial doubts and longing to return home during the first few months, Eleonora has managed to build a new life in Croatia. She has made friends and now considers Croatia her new home.
“All I want is for the war to end and to be rejoined with my husband.”
The future remains uncertain for Eleonora, and she is unsure of what it holds. Whether she will return to Ukraine or choose to stay in Croatia, she will make that decision when the time is right. For now, she only has heartfelt wishes: “All I want is for the war to end and to be rejoined with my husband.”
Eleonora reads the ‘The right to work’ brochure, published by the UNHCR and the Croatian Legal Center. Photo: ©UNHCR/Arijana Kladar Terzić
Supported by the integration programme offered by UNHCR and the Jesuit Refugee Service, Eleonora learns Croatian and actively participates in psychosocial support workshops. To enhance her prospects in Croatia’s competitive labour market, she expressed a keen interest in acquiring new skills and qualifications that complement her background as a hairdresser. She enrolled in a beautician course at the Public Open University in Zagreb. Alongside nine other refugee women, she successfully completed the program and earned a certificate. Her determination is clear: “I aspire to broaden my knowledge and skills. Once when I’m done with Croatian courses, I would like to get the opportunity to work part-time in the hair salon and part-time as a beautician.”
“I aspire to broaden my knowledge and skills.”
Driven by her desire to help her fellow displaced compatriots, Eleonora dedicates every Saturday to volunteering at the rehabilitation institution in Varaždinske Toplice. There, she provides support to Ukrainians with disabilities undergoing rehabilitation—styling their hair, engaging in conversations, and playing board games or cards with them.
And while her heart longs for her husband in war-torn Kiev, Eleonora knows that she is now safe, surrounded by love and support. Her journey may have started as an escape from war, but it ended as a story of strength and hope that shines even in the darkest moments.
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