Ukrainian refugee who fled war zone for Belfast says she's planning to move again after seeing state of violence on Britain's streets

Charlie Peters speaks to woman who fled Ukraine for Northern Ireland after Russian invasion but has been forced to move against following Belfast protests

|

GB NEWS

Alice Tomlinson

By Alice Tomlinson


Published: 10/06/2026

- 08:50

Updated: 10/06/2026

- 09:36

The 19-year-old had to flee to a friend's house as fires broke out

A Ukrainian family who fled to Britain after Vladimir Putin's invasion have been forced to move again following last night's protests in Belfast.

GB News presenter Charlie Peters spoke to Yaroslava Navrotska, 19, who had her home damaged during yesterday's unrest in the Northern Irish capital as locals rioted over Monday night's knife attack.


Ms Navrotska, who has been living with her mother and dog in Belfast for "several years" after fleeing war-torn Ukraine, said "no one is really safe anywhere" after rioters kicked down her door.

She recounted to the People's Channel what happened to her last night, saying: "They set a house on fire on the opposite side of the street to me. I was here with my dog.

"I heard men screaming and shouting, so I had to escape through my back door with my dog.

"I just ran to my friend's house because they live nearby but in a safer area."

Despite the evening of unrest and rioting, Ms Navrotska said she's "glad" she's "safe", but warned, "it could happen anywhere - no one is really safe".

She told GB News she will temporarily stay at a friend's house in a safer area, while she hears from her landlord about relocating.

Yaroslava Navrotska, 19

Yaroslava Navrotska, 19, has been in Belfast for several years with her mother and dog

|

GB NEWS

The Ukrainian refugee remained optimistic, saying: "I just hope it's going to be better in the future.

"I know I'm not a violent person, so I'm just doing everything I can at the moment."

Violence broke out on the streets of Belfast last night after details were revealed about the knife attack which occurred in the city on Monday night.

A Sudanese migrant was charged with attempted murder after a man in his 30s attacked another man, now named as Stephen Ogilvie, with a "kitchen knife", the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed in a press conference yesterday.

Protesters in Belfast with large fires lit

Protesters torched homes, cars and buses last night as violence broke out across the city and Northern Ireland

|

GETTY

Mr Ogilvie remains in hospital with "significant injuries" to his eyes and neck.

Protests in response to the attack began to escalate last night, with rioting and arson taking place throughout Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Across the city, roads were blocked and the GB News crew were warned to stay away by protesters in the east of the city.

Fire crews received 256 calls and reported 62 incidents across the region - the majority taking place in Belfast.

People were forced to flee their homes, like Ms Navrotska, as homes and cars were torched along residential streets.

Police and politicians called for "calm" after Monday night's attack.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said "sporadic pockets of disorder" have broken out in a number of locations across Northern Ireland.

He said: "We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk."

The PSNI's Tactical Support Group units and a helicopter were deployed to oversee the response after reports came in demonstrations were happening across Ulster.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill described scenes of violence in Belfast as "outright thuggery".

She said: "Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice.“This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery. The attack in North Belfast was heinous and wrong.

"But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here. Racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur.

"There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight. No one wants to see this on our streets and I again appeal for calm."