*Thank you to Needham Local reporter Cameron Morsberger and her series on refugee resettlement and its face in Needham.*
At the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Liudmyla Moseichuk, her husband, and their two young children resided in the southern region of the country, between Odessa and Mykolaiv. By last winter, sounds of alarms and explosions had become routine, but Moseichuk said they increased in frequency and severity.
Though they didn’t want to leave, the situation appeared increasingly dire. Moseichuk said it was a “difficult decision.” The family of four moved to Florida in April 2023, settling in Needham about a month later. She is often still triggered by planes flying overhead [and ] while the journey is challenging, Moseichuk isn’t alone.
The need for support services has only increased in recent months, said Needham Community Council Executive Director Sandy Robinson.
Ukrainian refugees have found solace and community in Needham, and Robinson said the NCC expects a similar wave of new arrivals from Israel and Palestine amid that conflict. While some manage to connect with loved ones for housing and support, there’s only so much those relatives can do, Robinson said.
“They’ve had to walk away from everything,” Robinson said.
