Maria Romanenko and Jez Myers How not to flee a war

In February 2022, as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, millions of people packed bags, found transport and fled west.

Maria Romanenko and her British partner Jez Myers were in Kyiv and, at first, chose to stay.

Not out of bravado, but from a belief that some stories must be told from where they are happening, and that some communities cannot simply be left behind.This extraordinary joint talk traces what followed: life in a city under bombardment and blackout, the moral and emotional calculus of whether to run or remain, and the moment when staying was no longer possible.

Blending memoir, frontline reportage, and moments of dark, disarming humour, Maria and Jez recount their journey alongside the stories of those they met along the way decisions made with limited information, mistakes that carried real consequences, and escapes that did not always end safely.Their own flight was documented by international media, with the BBC tracking their journey and interviews given to outlets including ITV and ABC Australia.

For Maria, the danger was acute: her previous work exposing Russian war crimes against Crimean Tatar journalists meant that Russian forces outside Kyiv posed a direct threat not only to her life, but also to Jezs.They are candid, too, about the privileges they carried with them supportive networks, a home waiting in the UK, language skills, and a public platform others lacked.

Alongside them were people whose lives had been reduced to a single carrier bag, who slept on sports-hall floors in Poland, and who faced an uncertain future with none of those advantages.Those experiences led Maria and Jez, once settled in Manchester, to found All for Ukraine, a project supporting displaced Ukrainians and advising on integration in the UK.

Today, Maria is one of the most recognised Ukrainian voices in Britain, frequently called upon to explain the war from the inside.Clear-eyed, humane and unexpectedly uplifting, How NOT to Flee a War offers a rare dual perspective on Europes largest conflict in 80 years what it looks and sounds like for ordinary people forced to decide whether to stay, to go, or to survive somewhere in between.

It is a testament to resilience, solidarity, and the power of bearing witness when it would be easier to look away.Maria Romanenko is a Ukrainian journalist and commentator who has reported widely on Ukrainian politics, civil society and the human realities of Russias invasion.

Known for her direct, unsentimental voice, she has become a frequent explainer of Ukraine to international audiences while remaining rooted in on-the-ground reporting and civic action in Kyiv.

Alongside her journalism, she has helped mobilise volunteer and mutual-aid efforts to support those affected by the war.

She is the first Ukrainian winner of the Prime Ministers Points of Light AwardJez Myers is a British photographer and writer who was living in Kyiv when the invasion began.

Choosing to remain in the city, he documented everyday life under attack, capturing moments of vulnerability, endurance and defiant normality.

His work focuses on the lived experience of civilians in wartime and reflects a deep, personal commitment to the community he shares with Maria.

He is the winner of Manchester City Council Pride of Manchester award.A Q&A session will follow.