Many Ukrainians who arrived early on in Sweden have friends living there. Photo / Joanna Piatek
She said when the Russian invasion of Ukraine got under way there was a sense in Sweden, which isn't part of Nato, that it was a bit too close for comfort, worry over what was going to happen next, and how prepared was the country if it was drawn into battle.
There are centuries of history describing the rivalry between Russia and Russia's upper north boundaries to Finland and Sweden.
Russia and Putin are to Swedes today what Peter the Great was in the early 1700s — in a time when the fear of Russia "Russophopia" emerged, she said.
"Swedish people, like many others, of course, have definitely been a little on edge."
Sweden was no stranger to helping those in need, she said, citing the country opening its arms to 163,000 refugees in 2015 who applied for asylum.
And now, with the Ukraine conflict, she estimates about 20,000 people had made it safely to Sweden so far with an estimated 80,000 arriving before summer.
She said a few kilometres from where she is living, in the small port town of Nynäshamn, there is a daily ferry link to and from Gdansk in Poland.
Natialia who lives in Sweden has managed to get her cousin and niece to Sweden from Kiev. Photo / Joanna Piatek
"A few hundred women and children, about 4000 daily to Sweden, arrive from Ukraine on this ferry every day.
"The first thing they get after clearing Customs is a hot coffee and a sandwich and fruit followed by eager gifting of prams, toys, diapers, sanitary products and internet Sim cards from well-meaning local charities and companies.
"Their first destination spot after that is the immigration office.
"People open up their homes and communities are being asked by the government to provide housing.
"The Ukrainian people are funnelled into society; some already have family here.
"They receive free hospital care and the children will go to school.
"The local commuter system in Stockholm has posters up saying if you have a Ukrainian passport or ID you can travel free."
Many of the Ukrainian children are tired, excited and overwhelmed by the attention and gifts as they arrive in Sweden. Photo / Joanna Piatek
And the Swedish government, for the first time in many years, was spending heavily on its own military defence.
"They are recruiting and dusting off a massive 65,000 bomb shelters throughout the nation.
"Swedes are being asked to be prepared, to check their nearest shelter, to look out to sea for foreign submarines or objects, and talk to their children about fear.
"Camping stoves had sold out and iodine pills were as hot as loo paper during Covid."
Swedish television shows and concerts were busy fundraising.
"With a push of a button on our mobile phones money is given.
"Some were also packing cars and trailers with supplies including medicine, battery chargers, nappies and more, before driving east, and 'catching the ferry to Poland'."
She said the invasion had made her reread the history of the key countries involved.
"It has made me angry, frustrated, and frightened.
"My thoughts are simply in turmoil for these poor people [from Ukraine], especially the children."
Joanna, like most people around the world, wants to see one thing.
