For many Ukrainians now living in the UK, the festive season is a poignant mix of cherished tradition and profound loss. As they prepare to mark their third Christmas since Russia's full-scale invasion, they cling to the rituals that connect them to a homeland they cannot safely return to.
Waking to War: Lives Uprooted in an Instant
Mariia Kushch's old life ended with an explosion at 4am on February 24, 2022. The blast shook her apartment building in a village near Kyiv, confirming her worst fears. "I grabbed my son, just seven years old at the time, and we went to the basement," she recalls. From her window, she saw helicopters, rising smoke, and heard machine gun fire outside her home. Learning a battle raged in the nearby forest, she knew they had to flee.
Now settled in Hertfordshire, Mariia mourns the life violently taken from her. "We have uprooted everything we knew," says the host of the Ukrainian New Identity podcast. The statistics underscore the scale of the tragedy: the UN reports 53,006 Ukrainian civilian casualties, including 14,534 deaths, since the war began.
"A Little Piece of Home": Preserving Festive Rituals
For Mariia, maintaining Ukrainian traditions is an anchor. Her favourite is St Nicholas Day on December 6, when children hope for a gift under their pillow, or risk finding a stick if they've misbehaved. "Surprise surprise, the week before, every child across Ukraine becomes an angel," she jokes.
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7, with the season winding down on January 19, the Feast of the Baptism. "On that day, many Ukrainians will go into the freezing water and take a dip," Mariia explains, believing the waters become holy and bless participants with health.
This year, she and her son, who live near another Ukrainian family, will celebrate together. They have also been carolling door-to-door, singing "Shchedryk" (Carol of the Bells), a song Mariia sees as a "symbol of Ukrainian resilience." "It brings a little piece of home into our new life here," she shares.
Convoys of Hope: Delivering Aid and Christmas Spirit
While families try to celebrate, UK-based charities work tirelessly to support those still in Ukraine. The Oxfordshire-based charity Driving Ukraine runs monthly convoys delivering vital vehicles to Lviv, near the Ukrainian border.
Co-founders Fynn Watt and Jacob Simpson have, to date, delivered more than 270 vehicles, led over 50 convoys, and fundraised more than £1.7 million. Their December convoy saw volunteers in Christmas jumpers driving decorated vehicles through Europe. Jacob set a challenge to pick up a Christmas tree on the route through Germany.
"The December convoy had sixteen evacuation vehicles," explains mission operations manager Jacob Simpson. "They were delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, air defence, and combat medics." The charity also transported a baby incubation device for evacuating infants from frontline hospitals.
Another group, Ukraine Relief, has delivered 56 ambulances this year alone, plus fire engines and Christmas gifts. Its founder, Karol Swiacki, who has spent 240 days in Ukraine since the war began, paints a stark picture. "When you're there... there is no electricity, there is no heating, there is no hope, almost," he says. "If you talk to these people, there is no happy Christmas." He recounts speaking to the young sons of a recently conscripted soldier: "The first thing they said to me was: 'We're missing our dad.'"
Togetherness in London: The Holy Supper
Karyna, a refugee from Kyiv now in London, also finds solace in tradition. For her, the season is about "togetherness and keeping traditions alive." She fondly remembers the Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) with its twelve symbolic dishes, the table covered with straw under a cloth to represent the manger.
"I remember the way everyone shared kutia, a sweet wheat and honey dish, wishing each other health and prosperity," she says. This year, she plans to cook the meal for friends in London. She also recalls the community joy of singing kolyadky (carols) in the streets.
Despite the pain, Karyna feels hope, citing the "resilience and unity" of Ukrainians. "Ukrainians are fighting not for power, but for the ability to live with dignity, make their own choices, and preserve their traditions," she concludes.
For Mariia, memories of her last Ukrainian Christmas—a "most beautiful" winter wonderland—are now bittersweet. "It's painful to think that, just months later, that same forest became a battleground," she reflects. This Christmas in the UK, like the last three, will be a testament to the culture, resilience, and unbreakable spirit of a people determined to keep their light alive, even from afar.
