Almost four years ago, Ukrainian lawyer Stanislav Schevchenko was running a successful firm in his native Kyiv and raising a young family. Life changed almost overnight in February 2022, when Schevchenko was woken by the sound of explosions as bombs fell close to his home.
‘Everything in my life changed in that moment,’ he said. ‘We spent the first night listening to the sound of machine guns outside, praying we would not be killed.’
Schevchenko felt he had no choice but to set off on an arduous 3,000-kilometre car journey across Europe with his wife and children. His destination was Wiltshire, where the family had been offered a place to stay with a British family under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
‘My family is my greatest duty, so I had to find a way to keep them safe,’ he added. ‘Our host family was very welcoming, and they helped me to find a job as office assistant at a small law firm. Although it was very different from what I did in Kyiv, I was just grateful to be providing for my family and learning.’
While Schevchenko was granted permission to leave Ukraine to care for his daughter, who has special educational needs, his business partner had to stay and is still serving on the front line in the war with Russia.
Schevchenko joined London property firm RSL LAW this year, where he now helps clients, including fellow Ukrainians, to buy homes and start new lives in the UK.
The firm is run by chief executive Tatiana Sharposhnikova, who was born in Russia but has lived in the UK for more than 30 years.
‘We don’t talk about the conflict,’ Schevchenko said. ‘We see no need. Our shared understanding is to focus on the business and its objectives. Tatiana took a chance on me and gave me a new start in my career.’
Now studying for his Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), Schevchenko hopes to become a fully-qualified solicitor in England. He added: 'I hope for peace in my home country. But I don’t know if I will ever return to Ukraine. My family are safe and happy here, and I want to continue to learn and work in this country.'
Sharposhnikova added: 'He is a dedicated professional with a unique perspective, and we are delighted to help him build his career. Our business is not to debate conflicts anywhere in the world; our mission is to deliver outstanding service in the UK to all clients, regardless of nationality, a vision Stan fully shares.'
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