How one Ukrainian woman is making a difference for newcomers
In Ukraine, Mariia Yatsko lived in Kharkiv, a city which she describes as the “wonderful, lovely, amazing, best city in the world.” Kharkiv lies on the eastern edge of the country, directly on the Russian border.
Prior to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, Mariia lived a peaceful life. She earned two master’s degrees and worked in the oil and gas industry. She and her husband raised their son in the home they bought when they were first married.
On the morning of Feb. 24, 2022, Mariia’s husband woke her, and said, “Please take the documents. We have to leave and be in the shelter.” With its proximity to Russia, Kharkiv was the first city attacked during the invasion.
By March 3, only a week after the conflict began, their home was destroyed.
When the war started, everything changed. All that I have from my previous life are two backpacks with my documents.
For four months, Mariia and her son lived in a shelter. Her husband was unable to join them because of his work contract.
Sheltering was difficult, and Mariia and her son had limited access to water, food, and personal hygiene items. Though she worried about him through the experience, she remained strong and hopeful that he could still have a bright future.
“He heard all this, he saw people die, he saw ruined buildings. He saw everything with his own eyes,” she shared.
In June 2022, Mariia and her son found some relief. They traveled to the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), sponsored by her sister, who had moved here decades ago. Her husband remained in Ukraine, still unable to join them.
I wish my life didn't change in one day. For me, Kharkiv was still home. For me, it's still a place where I grew up, where I was born, where the best time of my life was.
Mariia initially had a hard time adjusting in the U.S. She practiced English with anyone willing to help, filled out countless forms, and worked to build a new life in Georgia.
The one thing that kept her going was her son. “The thing that moved me to come to the United States is my son, because… he is my only child, and I understood that for his future I have to be here. I have [to] fight for my right, for him to have a bright, happy future."
A year after Mariia arrived in the U.S., her husband—who was exempt from serving in the military—finally joined them.
Despite her experience and education, Mariia had difficulty finding employment due to a lack of transportation. When she finally began working at McDonald’s as a night-shift cashier, she could see her future taking shape.
Through a few chance encounters, Mariia discovered New American Pathways, an Atlanta nonprofit organization that supports newcomers from arrival to citizenship, helping them build long-term success.
She applied for a position as a Ukrainian-speaking case specialist and began working there in March 2023. A year later, Mariia transitioned into a new role within the organization and continued supporting newcomers in achieving financial independence.
Mariia serves as a bridge between community needs and policy conversations. She not only responds to immediate challenges but also works to address the systemic issues behind them.
Mariia’s son is now a 15-year-old high school freshman. When he first arrived, he was 12 years old and spoke very little English. Now, he’s an honor student.
“He sees how I am fighting for his future, and he appreciates it, and he understands,” Mariia said.
Mariia is thriving in the U.S. and has become an advocate for Ukrainians and other humanitarian parolees like herself. Mariia and her family have temporary status that must be renewed every two years, with no path to citizenship.
“Every two years, I have to reapply for my status, and I'm not eligible to apply for a green card,” Mariia said. “That made me feel like, no, it's not fair. So I decided to learn more about civic rights and law here in the United States.”
Through the Civic Leadership Program at the University of Georgia, Mariia developed a petition for the Ukrainian Adjustment Act, supporting permanent residency for all humanitarian parolees. “I have to fight for that. I need my right to apply for [a] green card.”
Refugees International shared her petition with their newsletter, which opened up a new job for Mariia who now translates resources for them into Ukrainian and Russian. She also joined the Refugee Storytellers Collective, strengthening support for refugees through her lived experience.
Currently, Mariia is working with Ukrainians in Georgia to submit Congressional inquiries that help them move frozen cases through the U.S. immigration system.
Many people who applied for re-parole or other status changes are experiencing delays and uncertainty, as policy changes and backlogs significantly affect Ukrainians who are still unable to return to their war-torn homes.
Mariia’s lived experience inspires and enables her to make an impact on the lives of others.
“Her work continues to shape how institutions understand and respond to the needs of humanitarian parolees, ensuring that impacted communities are not only supported, but also meaningfully represented," said Sharif Noori, Mariia’s supervisor at New American Pathways.
In 2025, Mariia was honored with the Friend of Freedom Award from New American Pathways, a testament to Mariia’s outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment. For Mariia, this award recognizes all that she has gone through to find success in the U.S.
Today, Mariia is still fighting for the Ukrainian Adjustment Act. Every day, she is committing all that she can to advocate for Ukrainians and other refugee populations.
I'm proud of what I'm doing. I will continue to do that. And I hope that in the future, 100%, I will show everyone, this is my green card. I earned that.
“We were forced to leave our country,” she said. “We are professionals. We can support this country economically. We're very smart.”
Mariia hopes that through telling her story, others can better understand who Ukrainians are and why they came here.
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