How I Nearly Died Trying to Flee Ukraine War as a Black Nigerian Student — Content Creator

A Nigerian content creator, Oluwaseyi Omisakin, has recounted how she nearly lost her life while attempting to flee Ukraine at the outbreak of war, sharing her experience in a video posted on her social media platforms.

In the video, Omisakin narrated how her journey as an international student in Ukraine abruptly turned into a desperate struggle for survival when air raid sirens signalled the beginning of the conflict.

“I was a student in Ukraine. I had a plan and a future, and one night the sirens went off,” she said, recalling the moment she was forced to run into a bunker for safety—an experience she described as both confusing and terrifying.

According to her, what followed were days of uncertainty, fear and repeated attempts to escape the country. She described chaotic scenes at train stations, where thousands scrambled to leave, but said African students, including women, faced discrimination in the evacuation process.

“I remember hearing ‘children and women’—but not African women,” she said, alleging that access to trains was restricted along racial lines as people fought to board and flee.

Omisakin explained that she and others were at several points prevented from boarding trains, forcing them to remain in a country already under active attack. She said the experience made her fear for her life, as each delay increased the risk of being caught in the violence.

After days of trying, she eventually managed to leave Ukraine and crossed into Hungary, where she lived as a refugee for months. However, escape did not immediately end her struggles, as she faced uncertainty over her education and future.

She later relocated to the Netherlands, where she took on multiple jobs, including working in a grocery store and cleaning cottages, as she sought to rebuild her life from scratch.

Reflecting on her journey, Omisakin said the experience reshaped her perspective and pushed her into content creation, where she began sharing her story and connecting with others.

“Working six days a week, I still showed up on my free days to talk, to share,” she said, noting that she started with minimal resources but a strong belief that her story was not over.

She added that her intention in sharing the video was not to seek sympathy but to encourage others facing difficult situations.

“Maybe you haven’t run from war, but you’ve run from something. What matters is what you do with it,” she said.

Her account adds to growing narratives from African students affected by the Ukraine war, highlighting both the dangers of conflict and the challenges faced by foreign nationals trying to escape it.