Stories From Ukraine: Ellina Zakharchuk
Meet Ellina Zakharchuk, Employer Brand Specialist at Preply, and one of the inspiring voices in our Stories from Ukraine series. When the war forced her to move abroad, she had to rebuild her life from scratch. Through it all, she has remained a passionate advocate for Ukrainian culture.
At Preply, Ellina plays a vital role in shaping our employer brand and fostering a strong sense of belonging within the team. Her resilience and adaptability have made her a powerful force — both personally and professionally.
I can’t help but say that resilience has become Ukraine’s second nature. Of course, I knew that we were a powerful nation, but with the war, I realized all the potential and power our people have. For me, Ukrainians are undefeated, and if we need to fight for our country for 5,000 days, we will do it.
It’s hard to admit that it was only after the war that I started thinking about my Ukrainian identity and feeling proud of it. At school, I studied Ukrainian language and literature, and at university, I read a lot about Ukrainian philosophy. But I never questioned what it truly means to be Ukrainian.
The war changed that. It made me rethink my connection to Ukrainian culture and our history. I’m from the Luhansk region, where 95% of people speak Russian, so switching to Ukrainian didn’t happen overnight. It took time to start using it with friends, at work, and in daily life, but now, it feels natural. Looking back, I realize that switching to Ukrainian was the easiest yet most meaningful thing I could do for my culture and my nation.
I live in Spain right now, but staying connected to Ukrainian culture isn’t hard. There’s a big Ukrainian community here, and there’s always something happening, organized by Ukrainians — concerts, meetups, exhibitions — so you never feel too far from home. I’m a huge fan of Ukrainian music, so for me, it’s all about the live shows. Okean Elzy, Jamala, DakhaBrakha — whenever they perform in Spain, I do my best not to miss it. It’s priceless to be in a crowd and feel that shared connection and our Ukrainian spirit, even miles away from home.
And then there’s my partner, who’s learning Ukrainian on Preply. Our conversations are a fun mix of languages, and every time his teacher explains something about Ukrainian history or culture, I catch myself listening in, and I end up learning new things too. It’s a reminder that culture isn’t just something you hold on to; it’s something that keeps growing and evolving, no matter where you are.
I can’t stop admiring the Ukrainian people — their support, endurance, and bravery inspire me all the time. And I can see it everywhere: doctors and paramedics who save lives in the worst conditions, teachers who keep teaching, even from underground shelters, volunteers who spend all their time helping others, even when they have so little themselves. I see it in our soldiers, who fight for all of us, and for our history.
Their incredible courage, spirit, and strength are something that I often think about when I find myself in situations where I’m about to give up. And again, it’s not only about war. Our people find ways to support each other in so many ways. We check on friends, help strangers, donate, and rebuild. We have a big heart, and no matter where we live: Kyiv, Barcelona, London, Odesa, you can feel the unity of Ukrainians.
Our people need steady support from the world. Ukrainians are tired of empty promises or diplomatic niceties. What we need is real actions because, for us, this is not just politics — it’s life or death. Every delay in financial or military support means more cities destroyed, more innocent people killed, and more uncertainty about our future.
Ukrainians are fighting for more than just their land. They’re fighting for truth, for democracy, for the right to exist without fear. And this fight isn’t just theirs; it’s a fight for every person who believes that justice should prevail over tyranny.
Supporting Ukraine isn’t about politics; it’s about humanity. It’s about standing with those who refuse to be erased.
