Ukrainian artist Sofiia Komarova, a Facebook friend of Mathews resident Billy Senyk, fled with her family from their home in Kharkiv on Feb. 23, the day Russia began bombing her country. The family is now in Germany, making a new life, with Sofiia using her art to raise funds for Ukraine.
Sofiia said it was clear before the war began, from information that was being provided through the internet and newspapers, that Russian president Vladimir Putin was preparing to engage militarily in the eastern region of Ukraine. With Kharkiv located just 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Russian border, she and her husband, Andreii, were concerned their city would be one of those struck, and they didn’t want their 3-year-old daughter Yeva to be caught up in a war.
“My husband said when the Second World War started, Hitler spoke in the same way,” she said. “We combined these facts, argued on February 21 and 22, and on the 23rd decided to pack up and move away from the border.”
Traveling by car, the family drove across Ukraine. Sofiia said she had fallen asleep while Andreii was driving, and when she woke up at 5 a.m. the next morning, she checked her phone to see what was on the news. She discovered that they had passed through the Kyiv Oblast (province) just an hour before the bombing began there. Not knowing in which direction the Russians might take their attack, Andreii sped up and raced toward the border with Poland. Border guards did not question the fact that Andreii was leaving Ukraine, said Sofiia, because they left before martial law was instituted, requiring that most men between the ages of 18 and 60 remain in the country.
After spending the night in Poland, the couple continued on to Germany, where a friend is letting the family live in her apartment as long as they need, while she’s away in Dubai.
Sofiia said that Andreii, a mechanical engineer and plastics designer who speaks German, has already found a job, leaving her free to pursue her art and help Ukraine at the same time.
One of the ways in which Sofiia chose to help Ukraine was by having her artwork sold at the Whole Earth Festival, held this past weekend at the University of California-Davis. She said that 100 percent of any artwork sold would go to help Ukraine with food for the population and funding for the military.
As part of a collaborative group of artists, musicians, writers and poets, Sofiia said she plans to continue donating any money she makes from her art to her nation in its fight against Russia. A graduate of the Kharkiv National University of Economics, Sofiia has a degree in multimedia electronic publishing design and art. She creates computer-generated art and oil and watercolor paintings.
Sofiia said she and her husband may never be able to return to their home.
“We don’t know when the war will end,” she said. “And even if Russia stops, we can’t be sure there won’t be future bombing. If we lived in Lviv (in the western part of Ukraine), it might be different; but to be honest, we will continue our life in Germany. It’s more safe to be here with our daughter.”
Even if the war ends and Ukraine ends up with control of the eastern part of the country, said Sofiia, a portion of Kharkiv has been destroyed, and rebuilding the city and the surrounding small villages that were bombed will probably take at least two or three years.
Sofiia’s parents, sister and grandmother evacuated Kharkiv, as well, she said, but they went to other parts of Ukraine and plan to return to their city when they can.
People in Germany have been very warm and welcoming, said Sofiia, providing the family with clothing and sending her canvasses and paints. She said Germany has a lot of social programs that help people, but she and Andreii didn’t accept any of it. The Bavarian area where the family is now staying is quite beautiful, she said, with hills and forests.
“We’ve adapted here,” she said. “It’s fine.”
Sofiia Komarova’s artwork may be seen on her Facebook page.
