'I’m staying because of my dogs, I’ll never leave them, it’s not even an option'. But as the Russian invasion of Ukraine started escalating, Kobus Olivier began the process of leaving the city.
SHOUNAK SARKAR: Kobus Olivier, the CEO of Ukraine Cricket Federation (UCF), recalls the harrowing development that forced him to flee his apartment. An animal lover and an owner of four dogs, Olivier had been prepared to wait out the Russian invasion in his apartment with his beloved pets.
“I had bought plenty of canned food. Plus, I had barricaded all my windows with mattresses and blankets, just hoping for the best. The stress was killing me you know, because you are waiting and waiting, and you don’t know when they are coming. People told me that I am completely insane, but I just could not abandon my dogs”…
But as the fighting got closer and closer, he realised that staying put was no longer an option. “Irpin is only 15 kilometres from where I was. Also, my apartment is right next to one of the big highways, which goes directly to the city centre. The Ukrainian military had mounted machine guns on the highway with manned checkpoints every 20 metres. Any Russian tanks advancing on the city would have to go past my apartment and heavy fighting would break out. I just could not afford to get caught in the middle of that”…
Hoping to join the many Ukrainians packing out buses and trains in a bid to escape to neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania, Olivier quickly realised that a ride on public transport was not feasible with four dogs in tow. Fortunately, a friend came to his aid at the right time. SOURCE…
TASLEEM GIERDEN: In his latest interview, Olivier discusses the challenge of escaping as a non-Ukrainian refugee. ‘It’s almost (like being) out of the frying pan and into the fire’…
Olivier details his experiences as:
1. Being legally unprotected as a non-Ukrainian refugee
2. Facing rejection after applying for a humanitarian visa
3. Not working/earning money, without a working visa
4. The bleak reality of returning to South Africa with little to no job prospects as a 63-year-old.
Despite these challenges, Olivier created a documentary titled, “War Dogs and I”, which launched on 18 December at 5:30 pm on M-Net…
It is a heartwarming documentary about Kobus Olivier, nomad cricketer and Ukraine cricket CEO who did everything in his power to protect his four dogs during the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Putting his own life in danger for that of his beloved dog children, he takes us on their incredible journey from when bombs started to explode and all the tribulations they had to endure to get to safety.
Olivier says: “This documentary will display how an unbreakable bond and love helped us to survive the war and make it to safety. It will show that not even war could break us apart and how we always found a way to stay together. Where there is love, miracles happen. I look forward to sharing my story with the viewers”…
Olivier is also co-authoring a book that’s set to launch in early 2023. He (and his dogs) are now safe nomads and his spirit remains tenacious. SOURCE…
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