# Event Details - **Event Name**: How Not to Flee a War - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 19 Jun, 2026 at 06:30 pm – Fri, 19 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 pm - **Event Description**: Hear the story of a real escape from Kyiv during Russia’s 2022 invasion.About this EventSynopsisHow NOT to Flee a War is a first-hand talk by Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko, co-presented with her partner Jez Myers, telling the story of their attempt to escape Kyiv as Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.What begins as a surreal morning of explosions and disbelief quickly becomes a frantic and uncertain decision: whether to stay, where to go, and how to leave a city rapidly emptying under threat. Built around their real journey out of Ukraine, the talk uses personal storytelling and images from the road to show what the first days of invasion felt like from the inside.Rather than a polished narrative of survival, Maria and Jez describe the experience with blunt honesty and dark humour - the endless traffic, exhaustion, panic, misinformation, and the reality of borders under pressure. Through Maria's perspective as a Ukrainian, and Jez's as a British partner caught inside the unfolding disaster, the talk becomes both a gripping personal account and a wider reflection on displacement, resilience, and what it means to lose your home overnight.The talk has already been presented at the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and continues to tour widely, with appearances scheduled at the Scottish and Danish Parliaments, Aviva Studios in Manchester, and a headline slot at Lewes Speakers Festival in 2026.BiographiesMaria Romanenko is a Ukrainian journalist and co-founder of All For Ukraine. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Hromadske International, one of Ukraine's best-known news organisations, she is the only Ukrainian recipient of the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award. Since relocating to the UK, Maria has focused on supporting displaced Ukrainians and raising awareness through talks, including the widely delivered How NOT to Flee a War. She has conducted over 1,000 mainstream media interviews since arriving in the UK and is a regular commentator across national and international channels.Jez Myers is a community champion and CEO of All For Ukraine. A recipient of Manchester City Council's prestigious Pride of Manchester Award, he brings a dual background in business consultancy and civic engagement. After fleeing Ukraine with Maria, Jez has advised local and national bodies on supporting displaced Ukrainians, as well as assisting multiple Ukrainian charities. He is also Chairperson of the Spirit of Manchester Awards, the largest voluntary sector awards in the North West of England. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/66b6bda0-5f5f-11f1-b16f-0f9f4695b0c4-rimg-w512-h740-dcffffff-gmir.jpg - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/grantham/how-not-to-flee-a-war/100001984674805770 - **Event Categories**: nonprofit, charities, festivals, storytelling - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - door_time: 2026-06-19T17:00:00Z - Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes - Location: The Reading Room - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Grantham - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: The Reading Room - **lat**: 52.9125066 - **long**: -0.6426052999999999 - **full address**: The Reading Room, The George Centre, Grantham, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: How Not to Flee a War - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/b0817750aaf9e4636c762b6281ed6dd2e35d2df17dfec8f401c5c6cad487683f-rimg-w1200-h1736-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1774131952 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is How Not to Flee a War being held? - **A:** How Not to Flee a War takes place on Fri, 19 Jun, 2026 at 06:30 pm to Fri, 19 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 pm at The Reading Room, The George Centre, Grantham, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing How Not to Flee a War? - **A:** How Not to Flee a War is organized by The Reading Room, Grantham. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** How Not to Flee a War is ideal for festival lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a vibrant, immersive community experience. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Grantham, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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