Ukrainian journalist Pavlina Vasylenko has joined the newsroom of Dnevnik Nova TV. And although she was forced by the war to relocate, she is grateful for her Croatian 'family' and her wonderful colleagues there, Dnevnik.hr reports.

Vasylenko had to move to Croatia because of the war in her homeland. She is grateful to a friend from Zagreb, as well as to his family, who helped her find a job in Croatia. She is a long-time journalist and she found her new place on Nova TV Croatia. 'When the war started in Ukraine - from Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, I was broadcasting live on Serbian televisions N1 and Nova TV. And now I'm really happy to become part of the team at Nova TV Croatia,' Pavlina said. A friend put her in touch Nova TV’s news program director Ksenija Kardum and Kristina Sanković, head of the HR Department of Nova TV.

As Vasylenko put it herself, she isn't alone here, she has 'a Croatian family and wonderful colleagues'. Born in the city of Svitlovodsk, she studied journalism in Kyiv and describes herself as a Kyiv citizen. She worked for several national TV channels, then received a scholarship from the Polish government and came to Warsaw to study the Balkans. 'Moving isn't something new to me. At the early age of 16, I came to Kyiv, then at 28, I went to study in Warsaw and now when I'm 36, I am here,' Vasylenko said.

In Croatia, she he is trying everything she can to help Ukraine. 'Zagreb is just like Lviv to me. There are no big differences between Croats and Ukrainians. We are a witty and warm-hearted people although perhaps Croats are a bit more open than us,' Pavlina said 'although, unfortunately, we also have 'a common black streak', she added. 'You've had a war with your neighbor for the exact same reasons and now we're going through it. Hopefully, we'll soon be able to celebrate our common victory. Croatia is really helping us and I'm very grateful to the Croatian people for their support,' Vasylenko said.

She had been to Croatia several times prior to her arrival. 'I really liked this country. But even prior to that, I used to think that it would be good to live in two countries - Ukraine and Croatia. And you see, wishes do come true, though sometimes in a very strange and painful way. It would have been better if I had come here for a better reason than the war,' Vasylenko said.

Over the course of two years she studied the Serbian language and got her B2 level. She is also currently attending classes at the Faculty of Philosophy in order to, as she put it, throw out all Serb-isms and speak the real, literary Croatian language.

Vasylenko heard the statement of the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, who spoke in the Croatian Parliament. 'The lovable Pavlina blended quickly into our newsroom. She is studying Croatian hard and is communicating really well. I'm glad she is joined our newsroom. She is a journalist with many years of experience. With it comes that additional emotional context to this terrible war. You simply cannot remain indifferent when you hear firsthand about the horrors people are going through there. Vasylenko didn't leave Ukraine by her own free will but while she is here I hope she'll have a good time with us. I want her to come 'home' as soon as possible', concluded Dnevnik reporter Sabina Tandara Knezović.