Ukrainian Refugees in North Dakota : Maksym Bunchukov was in Zaporizhzhia when Ukraine was shot. The rockets terrified him. He and his wife quickly planned for the conflict. Their grown daughter went to safe Lviv. Later, they moved to Lviv with their cherished dogs.
Bunchukov moved to North Dakota 18 months later. Like many Ukrainians before him, he moved here for chances and safety.
Bunchukov is one of 16 newcomers on a great project operated by a group of companies. To address the labor shortage, Uniting for Ukraine is recruiting refugees and migrants. 12 Ukrainians will join the team by August 15. North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers program will aid them.
This new group has many goalsNorth Dakotan’s desire to return to Ukraine or their relatives.
“In the next few weeks, I plan to invite not only my wife and daughter but also my cats and dogs,” Bunchukov told The Associated Press, sounding hopeful just days after arriving.
Initiative Manager Brent Sanford’s Bakken initiative helps needy people and strengthens the workforce. Sanford witnessed the Bakken oil boom as Watford City mayor and vice governor. He emphasizes this project’s multiple aspects.
Many oil field workers were hired when the Bakken oil business started growing. After the Great Recession, many people from various states and nations came to work there to make a lot of money.
New technology, like drilling sideways and using water pressure to crack rocks and obtain oil from deep beneath, caused this enormous spike.
Council President Ron Ness noted that many people came from different places and used diverse ways to get there because they all desired a good-paying job. Due to the poor economy, they decided to start anew in North Dakota.
The global flu made 2015 worse. Thus, many of these transient workers returned home, especially to warmer climates. In recent months, labor turnover has made it harder to find enough workers, according to Ness.
In an oil field that produces 1.1 million barrels per day, Ness estimates 2,500 employment vacancies. Employers advertise only some jobs. Instead, they posted several adverts for multiple positions.
North Dakota and the Uniting for Ukraine plan share Ukrainian ancestry, weather, and farming history. Ness’s law firm concurred.
The leaders of these companies want to help Ukrainian migrants find jobs, health care, affordable housing, and education.
160 Ukrainians have visited North Dakota, and most have settled in Bismarck. Holly Triska-Dally, who helps refugees, says more people want to help. She feels more people are learning about refugees and seeing how well Ukrainians are doing in the U.S.
It could change things if two dozen Ukrainians migrated to Minot and Dickinson. These places usually aren’t significant enough to move back to. Triska-Dally believes that bringing their family will benefit local businesses and schools.
Maksym Bunchukov, a Ukrainian furniture and equipment salesman, builds roads for Baranko Bros. Inc. Many recent arrivals worked in Alaska’s seafood industry, cruise ships, or temporary jobs. Sanford says they blend in better because they have Social Security numbers and speak English.
English-speaking Dmytro Haiman joined Bakken. He told the gathering about hiding in his grandma’s basement during the war as Chernihiv was bombed. He moved people to safer places and supplied essentials to his complex city as the fighting worsened.
Haiman wants to reconstruct Ukraine with his new water transportation profession. He loved his nation. I wish to improve it for my family.
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Bakken aims high. They intend to hire 100 individuals by 2023 and 400 in a year. It’s not only about Ukrainians leaving. Building and basic activities are among your options. It’s easy to advance from $20 an hour.
Uniting for Ukraine participants might take time off or leave the state. This scheme gives “humanitarian parole” for two years. Sanford said the outcome depends on the federal government.
Four translators help staff with paperwork, training, and settling in. Some bosses rent apartments or plan long-term hotel stays for new hires.
Glenn Baranko’s company builds pathways to oil drilling rigs and protects the environment. He wants individuals to find suitable occupations. Baranko thinks there needs to be more workers, even though his company engaged a researcher to find them.
At a Ukrainian Cultural Institute lunch, newcomers proudly displayed their hometowns on a map. They ate a lot of delicious cuisine from different restaurants. Rice rolls and perogies reminded them of home.
The Ukrainian Cultural Institute’s Kate Kessel applauded this community’s dedication to preserving Ukrainian culture. The center has raised almost $10,000 for war victims. They’re passionate about this.
This shop has models in elaborate attire, adorned eggs, and an extensive library full of Ukrainian classics. This illustrates their lifestyle. A large “Peace to Ukraine” banner hangs. It symbolizes the lunch tables.
It includes Ivan Sakivskyi. He wants to advance in his Baranko job. Sakivskyi wants to move but’ll return to the U.S. to visit his family in Ukraine.
“I love Ukraine,” Sakivskyi remarked confidently. My family is from there. Excellent pals!
Our Reader’s Queries
Why did Ukrainians immigrate to North Dakota?
North Dakota’s Ukrainian immigrants arrived in the United States seeking political, economic, and religious liberty. Unfortunately, their heritage was frequently misunderstood and misrepresented.
How long Ukrainian refugees can stay in USA?
Under the Uniting for Ukraine program, Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who have been granted travel authorization will be allowed to enter the United States for a period of two years. This parole status will enable them to stay in the country temporarily.
Where have most Ukrainian refugees settled?
Over 4.8 million Ukrainian refugees out of the 8 million in Europe are residing in countries bordering Ukraine, including Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia. Out of these, 2 million are registered in the border Member States and Moldova, as per UNHCR figures.
What benefits do Ukrainian refugees get in the US?
Ukrainian immigrants may qualify for various health insurance options based on their residency and immigration status. These options include Medicaid, CHIP, RMA, or financial aid to purchase health insurance through the marketplace, commonly known as “Obamacare.”