'My life was devoted to medicine in Ukraine'

A cardiologist who fled Ukraine with her daughter three years ago is nearing the end of exams that would allow her to practise in the UK.

Anna Pinchuk, 39, fled Kyiv with her daughter seven-year-old Sofiia in March 2022 shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion began.

Dr Pinchuk was working as a cardiologist at two private hospitals in Kyiv when she made the decision to leave for her daughter's safety, first staying in Germany and then in Devon.

"A lot of buildings were destroyed and many people died. It was really scary being responsible for my child," she said.

Dr Pinchuk said she packed money and important documents and drove to the border.

They stayed in Germany until June 2022 before a family in the UK invited them to stay at their home in Devon.

Speaking about being a cardiologist in Kyiv, Dr Pinchuk said: "Every day of my life was devoted to medicine and to helping people."

She said she had sat through three years' of exams that would allow her to practise in the UK, with her final exam set to be held in June.

Dr Pinchuk said: "The system is tough and long. It takes around three years on average."

Her first exam was the Occupational English Test, which she received support to help prepare for through free tutor sessions from Refugee Support Devon.

The charity said it had helped about 40 professionals from around the world, including doctors, vets, ophthalmologists and nurses, pass their occupational English test.

Dr Pinchuk thanked them for their support, as well as the family who opened their doors for herself and Soffia, who is now 10 and settled in school.

"They are very kind and generous and we are extremely grateful for what they have done for us," she said.

Dr Pinchuk said "everything in Ukraine is very changeable and very unreliable".

"We don't have any guarantees, and even if the events will stop for a while, we never know if the war will restart," she said.

"At the moment, it's unpredictable, we can't plan anything."

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