Hello, I'm Kateryna L.

My name is Kateryna Lobasheva, and I am reaching out to you with a hopeful heart. I am a single, divorced mother of two boys (ages 6 and 13) from Kyiv. We are currently facing a very dire situation. Recently, a Russian "Shahed" drone struck my apartment building. My children and I survived because we were in a shelter at the time, but our section of the building is now completely uninhabitable. Currently, we are staying with friends, but this is only a temporary solution. Life in Kyiv is becoming increasingly difficult—we are often without electricity, water, or heating, all while facing constant air raids and shelling. I tried my best to stay in Ukraine as long as I could, but I have reached my psychological limit. I am deeply afraid for my life and the lives of my children. My sister moved to the Netherlands three years ago; she lives with a Dutch family in Utrecht and is currently working. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the space to host us. This is why I am writing to you for help. I am planning to come to Utrecht with my younger son (my eldest will stay with his father in Kyiv for now), but we have nowhere to stay. I am looking for housing in or around Utrecht. I want to emphasize that I am not seeking financial benefits—I work remotely and plan to take on additional work alongside my sister once I arrive. I would be incredibly grateful for any help or leads you could provide in finding a place for us to stay. Thank you so much for your time and kindness. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Kateryna