That was sad. There was almost no Christmas atmosphere, since we heard that we are not allowed to visit Ukraine. Just before Christmas, Olena Hrabchenco was told that Ukrainian refugees in Norway, like her, could lose their residence permits if they visited their homeland. As a result, she and her two children, aged 12 and 15, do not know when they will see their husband and father again. – It was sad, especially for the children. They count the days until the summer when they would visit and see their father again. Shortly after the war in Ukraine broke out, Olena and the two children fled to Norway, while the family man Sergey had to stay behind. – When we came to Norway, we thought it was only two months ago. That in two months we would see each other again. But it’s been almost two years and we don’t see an end to it, says Olena. May lose residence permit Until 12 December 2023, Olena and the children could travel to Ukraine to visit Sergey. But now they risk losing their residence permit in Norway if they leave. I am very sad and worried. – Olena Ukrainian refugees could, unlike refugees from other countries, return to their homeland without losing their residence permit in Norway. – When the government has now tightened the regulations for return journeys for Ukrainians, it is about us wanting to have the same practice and the same rules for all refugees. This is according to State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Even Eriksen (Ap). But this seems to Olena to be incomprehensible and unfair. Olena and the children have to manage in Norway without Sergey: – It’s difficult, but I’m doing it step by step, she says. Photo: Sunniva Skurteveit / news – I can’t understand it. Refugees from other countries have freedom and peace in their country, with their entire families together. But not in Ukraine. Ukrainian men are not allowed to leave the country, so families are divided. After the war broke out and they traveled to Norway, Olena and the children saw Sergey once last summer. – It was like an adventure! It was a dream that came true. But now they don’t know when or if they will see their father again. Equal treatment for all refugees The regulations are now equal for all refugees with a temporary residence permit in Norway. Nevertheless, Andreas Sjalg Unneland (SV) in the justice committee at the Storting believes that this is the wrong way to go. – We have been concerned with equal treatment, but that does not mean that the solution is that Ukrainians who have had a right should be deprived of it. Unneland believes that the rights of all other refugees should be strengthened. – The government has openly stated that it was right at one point that you should have this opportunity, so I think it seems unreasonable why you now think that Ukrainians should no longer have this opportunity. But Eriksen in the Ministry of Justice does not agree. – If you are a refugee, and Ukrainian in this case, travel back and forth between Norway and the country from which you have applied for protection, this may indicate that you may not need protection in Norway. – Can’t take my children back with me Sergey works as a volunteer in an organization that works for refugees in Ukraine. But since he is of the so-called mobilization age, he can be taken out and mobilized for the defence. I’m scared every day. Because I don’t know if he’ll see me again. – Olena While most men have to stay in the country, many mothers, children and the elderly have left the country. There are mixed feelings about that. – There is a certain frustration that so many have left Ukraine and are not staying precisely to keep the social machinery going. This is explained by Morten Jentoft, foreign correspondent at news. He has been to Ukraine several times and met those who have stayed in the country. Morten Jentoft says it is also understandable that people will leave Ukraine when there is war. – Those who remain in Ukraine, preferably those with poor resources who do not have the opportunity to flee and leave. And those who have left get fairly favorable conditions of residence, for example in Norway, says Jentoft. But for Olena, taking the children back to Ukraine while the war continues is not an option. – We are faced with a choice: Be together with the family or go back to the place of war. I cannot take my children back to Ukraine.
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Olena’s children are not allowed to meet their father because of new rules for Ukrainian refugees – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
