Almost 7,000 Ukrainians now living in Cork but their future is uncertain

With Ukraine in the midst of an ongoing war since being invaded by Russia in February 2022, many Ukrainians have come to Cork for a safer and more peaceful life.

As of July 2025, there are estimated to be 6,978 Ukrainians living in Co Cork, making it one of the counties with the highest number of Ukrainian refugees under the EU temporary protection directive.

At least 31 countries have now signed up to help defend a peace deal in Ukraine, once one is struck, in an effort to ward off a future attack by Russia.

Ireland is among those countries, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended a virtual leaders’ meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine on Sunday.

The UK and France have pledged to commit forces to Ukraine to deter Russian president Vladimir Putin from launching a fresh assault on his neighbour if a deal is done to end the war.

Discussions this week have paved the way for a potential meeting between Mr Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite all the high-profile meetings, since February 2022 when the war began, the lives of Ukrainians have been turned upside down and changed forever and, for Ukrainians living in Cork, what the future holds remains uncertain.

Speaking to The Echo, Victoria Tymoshchuk, facilitator of the Ukrainian community in Cork and director of Ukrainian Hub KALYNA, said that returning to her home in Ukraine is not a viable option.

“We also don’t [know] what will happen here in Ireland when the war stops. I myself am from the southern part of Ukraine. Everything has been destroyed there. So there is no future there for my child.

“My biggest concern is for my child and I will do my best to give her a decent future. I cannot go back to my hometown. Now it is a kind of limbo and we don’t know what to do,” said Ms Tymoshchuk.

“Unfortunately there has been nothing definite promised to Ukrainians. We don’t have clear instructions or promises from the Government.”

While many members of the Ukrainian community in Cork do wish to return home, there is a realisation they may have no choice but to stay here.

Although Cork has provided a safe space for Ukrainians, for the likes of Ms Tymoshchuk the war has also brought a number of challenges to the fore.

“For me, every day I can say is a struggle. That is because another very dear person to me, my mother, she is still in Kherson where I am from. Now it is a frontline.

“I have daily connection with my mom. She doesn’t want to leave the city because she doesn’t want to become an international homeless [person] and she knows that it is hard to start your life abroad.

“Every day I get information and news from my motherland. It is hard.”

Ms Tymoshchuk outlined some of the challenges faced by members of the Ukrainian community in Cork on a day-to-day basis, elaborating on the uncertainty faced by some of her countrymen and women.

“There are some general problems for Ukrainians in Cork,” Ms Tymoshchuk said.

“As all people from refugee background, we have problems concerning finding accommodation and getting jobs. I think finding accommodation is the hardest thing because if people live in Government accommodation offered by IPAS, Government usually moves people from one place to another,” she said.

“This makes life difficult, especially when people manage to find schools, kindergartens and also jobs for themselves. Then just in a few months, they then need to start a new life in a new place.

“It is not always in the same district or in the same county. As for me, I was lucky enough to get a place here in Cork.

“Sometimes people think that if you are in a safe place, you feel relaxed and enjoy life. It is not possible to enjoy life ... when you have a dear person still at war. We don’t see the end yet and it is very difficult,” added Ms Tymoshchuk.

'WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WAITING'

“We still don’t know what is waiting for Ukrainians and what will be promised by the Government. We still don’t have clear instructions. My biggest concern really is about people who cannot go back. People from occupied territories.”

Through her roles as a facilitator of the Ukrainian community in Cork and with Hub KALYNA, Ms Tymoshchuk is in a strong place to judge how accommodating the people Leeside have been towards Ukrainian people.

“I can tell you only from my perspective. We always receive a warm welcome from the local authorities and local communities.

“This is because you always get what you give to people. We give love and we give respect, to people and to locals. We get the same in return,” she said.

“As for me, nothing has changed. Maybe it has improved because people know us better. We are always welcome and receive invitations.

“We recently performed at the Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival, we were so happy to be a part of this festival.”

Another Ukrainian living in Cork is Olesia Zhytkova, a postdoctoral researcher in Dublin City University Business School. She has a PhD in history and has authored more than 10 journal articles and more than 30 conference papers and media articles.

Her research interests include contemporary history and politics of Eastern Europe, religious studies, war studies (cultural and religious factors of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the impact of the war on the environment and migration), corruption studies, women’s history, and studies in the comparative history of Ireland and Ukraine.

“Cork really became a safe hub for Ukrainians. We love Cork a lot. Because of the locals and the fantastic people,” said Ms Zhytkova

“We have many kids in local schools. We are safe here and we feel well about our children.

“They are safe here and they are welcome here.”

An event to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day will be held on Sunday, August 24, at The Carraig Centre, Ballincollig, from 2pm to 4pm.

Organised by Hub KALYNA, the event aims to showcase Ukrainian traditions through music, storytelling and community engagement.