Woman taking refuge in Valley after fleeing Ukraine describes escape from home during attack

PHOENIX — A Ukrainian-born woman is taking refuge in Scottsdale after escaping the war-torn country and is telling the story of how she fled her home as it was being destroyed by Russian soldiers.

Ludmilla Timoshenko lived in Phoenix until about five years ago when she inherited her mother’s home in Ukraine.

When her friends called and warned her of the war, Timoshenko didn’t think she would be in danger. That is until she saw the tanks.

“I was terrified. I was counting the tanks with my mouth open wide because of horror and fear,” Timoshenko said.

She decided to go to the living room, away from the windows.

“I heard the terrible explosion, and all the house was shaking,” she said.

The blast caused a door to hit her in the head, resulting in her falling to the ground.

“I was lying there, and still I heard this noise of tanks that were passing on the road,” Timoshenko said.

Her neighbor’s home was destroyed, and her home had significant damage.

She would hear the noise of tanks once again a few hours later, followed by another blast. That’s when she smelled smoke. Her home was on fire and all she had time to do was grab her purse.

“We couldn’t save anything. Nothing,” Timoshenko said. “I don’t have picture of my parents. I don’t have picture of my daughter when she was small. Nothing.”

Also inside were her four cats, with only one being able to somehow escape the blaze.

“They couldn’t escape, and I couldn’t grab them, because there was fire,” she said. “I was just standing outside, looking and crying. It was terrible. I didn’t have any place to go.”

Her neighbors offered her shelter and clothes, with all remaining quiet to avoid detection by Russian soldiers.

“We were silent like mice because we couldn’t make noise,” she said. “Russians were walking back and forth, back and forth. And their tanks and their weapons, and we were terrified of sounds of war…I will never ever forget the sounds.”

She stayed for two nights before attempting to flee in the early morning to a friend’s home in the forest.

“In the street, there were Russian tanks, and they didn’t let anybody cross the street,” Timoshenko said. “They were shooting.”

She crawled across the street to avoid being seen. After passing through multiple other streets, a cemetery and a field, she finally got to the forest.

Months after her harrowing ordeal, Ludmilla is once again living in Arizona, this time in Scottsdale.

She wants to move to Canada to live with her daughter, but the country requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination and hers was destroyed in the blaze that took her home.

Timoshenko said she is grateful for everyone who helped her escape and for those still fighting in Ukraine, her home.

“Our soldiers, our young people are so brave,” she said. “They’ll defend our land, and they will defend until their last breath.”