Events organiser’s lucky escape: ‘I only just got a last flight out of Russia and I don’t know when I will see my mother again’

EXCLUSIVE: BY REGINA MOTALIB
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

An event organiser had a lucky escape from Russia on one of the last flights available – via a lengthy detour to Uzbekistan – to get back to her family in South London.

Elena Moiseeva, 45, from Forest Hill, was on a 10-day trip to Moscow for her mother Tamara’s birthday when she was trapped amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The mum-of-one, born in Moscow but who but who settled in London in 2006, left for Russia on February 20 and said: “I feel safe and relieved to get back home and to see my son and husband again.

“Now that Britain has ended all diplomatic relations with Russia, I don’t know when I will see my mother and my other loved ones again.

“I hadn’t seen them for almost two years because of the pandemic.

“I had absolutely no idea there was going to be an attack. We knew Putin was gathering forces but were not too concerned at that point as we didn’t think it would escalate into this invasion.”

A Ukrainian client living in London but visiting his homeland only managed to escape the Russian siege by fleeing to Poland with other refugees – otherwise he could have been drafted into the army.

Most Russians thought the tensions would have led to negotiations and not a “shocking and hasty invasion”, she said and added: “I still cannot believe how quickly my trip descended into chaos and how badly my travel plans would be disrupted.”

A televised address by President Putin, to the nation, changed the atmosphere. She said: “It was very clear Putin was taking a drastic military approach.

“He said Russia had been trying to sort out the issue with Ukraine for eight years but will have to use a military-based mission to sort this out. Even at this stage, none of us could imagine the situation would move to this level but we started talking about avoiding the Iron Curtain situation we experienced in our youth – during the Soviet times, where our daily lives and liberties were severely impacted.

“Most Russians do not support this unjust attack on Ukraine. They are our neighbours and friends.”

Elena and her mother went on a two-night trip to St Petersburg to see a play. “But things were happening at rocket speed,” she said.

Aeroflot flights to the UK were cancelled on February 25 – her return was scheduled for March 4. She managed to book a February 28 flight with Austrian airlines via Vienna.

But that was cancelled the day before. Elena realised it was no longer safe to try and fly back to the UK on flights from NATO countries such as Turkey so used an app to find alternative routes home.

She booked one via Uzbekistan with a 20-hour stopover and £1,000 extra cost – the flights to London from Tashkent were once a week.

“The pandemic taught me how quickly airspace can close and people can get stranded,” she said.

Since returning to London, Elena has been collecting donations to support the Polish Centre in Forest Hill. Lewisham’s Polish Centre based at 8 Waldram Park SE23 2PN has issued an urgent call for donations and volunteers.

For donations and support, they can be contacted on: https://m.facebook.com/lewishampolishcentre/

 

Main Picture: Elena and her mother in Moscow

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