Ukrainian Widow in Dubai Confronts War Trauma Anew as Gulf Tensions Rise
Olga Garbuz, a Ukrainian widow who lost her husband in the war in Ukraine, sought refuge in Dubai four years ago to rebuild her life with her daughter. However, the recent military escalation in the Gulf, marked by Iranian drone and missile strikes, has brutally revived the fears she thought she had left behind in her homeland.
"The war in Ukraine took many things from me and my daughter. My husband was killed. We were displaced multiple times. I cannot imagine enduring such horrors again," Ms Garbuz revealed in an emotional interview. Her husband, Yuriy Volchkov, aged 45, died in March 2022 in Kharkiv, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine, when the vehicle he was using to distribute humanitarian aid came under Russian fire.
Fleeing Conflict Only to Face It Again
After Kharkiv fell under Russian occupation early in the war, Ms Garbuz and her daughter embarked on a harrowing journey, moving 13 times across Ukraine before finally leaving the country. "Each time packing our things and setting up a new home was incredibly exhausting," she recounted. Arriving in the United Arab Emirates with just two suitcases, she has worked tirelessly to secure a stable future for her daughter, Maya.
Just days before the Gulf escalation began with Iran's retaliatory strikes, Ms Garbuz had started to feel that life was returning to normal after three years of upheaval. Her greatest fear now is the prospect of uprooting her daughter once more. "Now we have been living in the same apartment for almost two years. My daughter attends school regularly. It would be absolutely heartbreaking for her if we had to move again," she added.
Instincts Reawakened by Missile Interceptions
The sound of missile interceptions over Dubai skies has triggered old survival instincts. "I found myself again packing an emergency bag. I knew which documents to include, that we must have water at home and cash on hand," Ms Garbuz explained. The explosions also evoke physical memories of war: "Sometimes my body tenses up because I remember what it was like and what usually followed. I still try to remain calm and not give in to panic."
Despite the tension, she expressed trust in the UAE authorities, believing they will resolve the conflict diplomatically. This sentiment comes as the UAE's Ministry of Defence confirmed intercepting nine ballistic missiles and 109 drones, with the interior ministry issuing emergency alerts urging residents to seek shelter.
Other Ukrainians in the UAE Share Similar Anxieties
The Gulf escalation has affected many of the estimated 250,000 Ukrainians living in the Middle East. Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro, who relocated to the UAE in September 2024 for safety with their two young sons, described feeling as if the war had followed them. "It feels like the war has followed us to Dubai," Ms Moskviechiev stated, noting that they left Ukraine to avoid raising children in a war zone.
Witnessing Russian missiles and Shahed drones near her apartment on the Corniche, along with loud explosions from air-defence systems, left her "shocked and surprised." She recalled hiding in bathrooms during bombings in Kharkiv and sleeping at bus stops. However, she feels safer in the UAE due to effective air-defence systems and is praying for a quick end to the escalation.
Alexandra Govorukha, a PR professional who moved to Dubai six months ago after initially relocating to the UK, reported a rocket being shot down near her house. She emphasized the need for preparedness, with her nine-year-old daughter already hardened by war experiences.
Mariana Yevsyukova, a UAE resident since 2017, highlighted how the tensions stir painful memories for Ukrainians. "We carry the trauma of witnessing war. We ran away from Shahed drones in Ukraine, and now they are hitting the UAE," she said. Even relatives in war-torn Ukraine check on her daily, showing solidarity amidst their own struggles.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, has received assurances from the UAE government regarding the protection of Ukrainian citizens. As Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for targeting Gulf neighbours but continued attacks, the resilience of these displaced families is tested once more, underscoring the global ripple effects of regional conflicts.
