An international lawyer from Odessa has set up a Ukrainian employment support group called 'United for Changes'.
Pavlo Bogachenko and his partner Anna Krys established the group to help Ukrainians find work in Ireland and integrate into society.
A survey of 300 Ukrainians conducted by 'United for Changes' found a number of barriers preventing people securing employment here, including English, recognition of qualifications, a lack of employment in the location where Ukrainians are located, as well as difficulties accessing childcare, and difficulties preparing a resume and preparing for interviews.
Mr Bogachenko told Morning Ireland that educational training boards offer free language classes, "but to be able to work to a sufficient level, there's more need for more intensive courses".
He said there thousands of doctors and lawyers, for example, who would love to work in their qualified profession here, but their Ukrainian qualifications are not recognised.
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He said the Ukrainian Solidarity Bill is making its way through the Oireachtas which will hopefully address the qualification issue. "The Ukrainian-Irish legal alliance are also working on this issue to speed up the process."
Mr Bogachenko left Ukraine on February 20, 2002, 4 days before Russia invaded Ukraine, to do the New York bar exams. He and his partner found themselves stranded in the US after airlines cancelled their return tickets to Kiev.
The couple decided to move to Ireland as Ms Krys had lived in Dublin and Kerry before.
Mr Bogachenko works as an international lawyer with Deloitte. "We have 10 years of civil society experience and we really wanted to use our skills during this hard time to help Ukrainians and Ireland which has welcomed us so warmly here."
