海角大神

Anastasia Chukovskaya was in Moscow when her husband, Alexey Zelenskiy, called from their home of nine years in Budapest, Hungary. Russia had invaded Ukraine. She rushed back, and for several days, the couple, both Russians, were 鈥渄evastated.鈥� They didn鈥檛 know what to do.聽

Then their phone started ringing.

鈥淪omeone was passing along our number,鈥� says Ms. Chukovskaya, speculating that their past work in the media meant many people had their contacts 鈥� and shared them with refugees. 鈥淲e understood that this was it.鈥澛�

Quickly, Mr. Zelenskiy鈥檚 sound design studio became an apartment for refugees. The couple posted their needs on social media. Supplies flowed in. Women in the United States paid to book more apartments. A London resident reserved hotel rooms near Budapest鈥檚 train station. Ms. Chukovskaya and Mr. Zelenskiy drove there late at night to meet people with nowhere to go.

Helping hands kept appearing. A newly arrived Kyiv resident announced she was a teacher and demanded to know where the children were. 鈥淪he is in the most stressful phase of her life, and she is thinking about using her skills immediately,鈥� Ms. Chukovskaya marvels.

On April 19 this expanding network opened the Learning Without Borders Center for refugee children. The nongovernmental organization Migration Aid is paying the lease; donations offer support as well.聽

Ms. Chukovskaya鈥檚 nationality has prompted curiosity. 鈥淧eople hear my accent immediately,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a pause when they hear I was born in Moscow.鈥�

While helping prepare the space, one Ukrainian artist, painting flowers on a wall, told Ms. Chukovskaya she could not imagine how she felt as a Russian. Feeling that compassion reflected back moved Ms. Chukovskaya. 鈥淎 refugee woman would support me? I couldn鈥檛 speak.鈥� Another told her that 鈥渕eeting you reminds me I shouldn鈥檛 go into blind hatred.鈥澛�

These encounters have been a blessing for her and her husband.聽

鈥淢y Russian friends still in Russia envy us because every day we can do something to help,鈥� Ms. Chukovskaya says. 鈥淪o we are the lucky ones鈥� 鈥� even as, she says, her 鈥渁mazing life鈥� as an educator, media trainer, and editor who believed her work could help transform Russia felt shattered.

The couple, who have two children, have also been sobered by seeing a modern replay of what their grandparents鈥� generation experienced. But they also see hope.

鈥淲hen I was reading diaries of the 20th century, there was always this unknown person,鈥� Ms. Chukovskaya says. 鈥淪uddenly, you find this piece of bread 鈥� someone put it there. You find support from someone who gives you warm clothes. These unknown people helping you in time of need, this is what happens.

鈥淣ow, I hope I am that person.鈥澛�