Timur was once a successful farmer and businessman in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.

His life changed dramatically after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, when large areas of southern Ukraine were occupied. The town of Enerhodar, where Nadirov lived, was among those taken by Russian forces.

Unwilling to remain under occupation, Timur made the difficult decision to leave. His journey west was long and dangerous, marked by constant fear and mistreatment by Russian authorities. First, he was forced to travel through Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. From there, he crossed through mainland Russia before finally reaching the border with Estonia. After enduring significant hardship, Timur was eventually allowed to leave Russia, entering Estonia and later continuing through Europe to Denmark.

On May 12, 2023, with the help of Jewish Family Services, Timur arrived in New York. There, he reunited with Ukrainian friends. Together, they traveled to Richmond, where they began rebuilding their lives with the support and care of Jewish Family Services.

Like many newly arrived refugees, Timur and his friends faced immediate challenges: language barriers, lack of transportation, housing insecurity, access to food, mobile communication, medical insurance and unfamiliar systems for social services. JFS stepped in quickly to help address these needs. They were placed in comfortable, furnished apartments stocked with food, and each received $100 for initial personal expenses.

JFS also assisted them with applications for social benefits, Medicaid, employment authorization, Social Security numbers, and postal services. Timur and his friends deeply appreciated the compassion, guidance and stability JFS provided during this overwhelming transition.

"I am grateful to JFS for its assistance in arriving in the United States from the territory of Ukraine, which was occupied by Russia in 2022,” Timur said. “I got security, housing and systematic legal support. Thanks a lot!"

Despite their growing sense of security, they missed Ukraine deeply. Behind the front lines, they had left homes, property, friendships and a familiar way of life.

In the United States, Timur discovered a world filled with new and sometimes overwhelming possibilities. Though he currently works nights as an Uber Eats delivery driver, Timur remains, at heart, a farmer. One of his dreams is to one day own a private home with a piece of land where he can work the soil again.

Above all, Timur is thankful not only for the tangible support—housing, transportation, and benefits—but for the sense of family and community he found in Richmond. That feeling of belonging, he says, has been the most meaningful gift of all.

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