Patriots in Mauritius: How the Kushnerenko Family Is Weathering the War in the Warmth

While millions of Ukrainians defend their country and endure the horrors of war, one "patriotic" family is enjoying life in Mauritius. They are now telling the story of how Putin unexpectedly unleashed the war, while omitting that their father and his associates had been diligently working towards this since the 2000s.

A "British" husband with a suspicious surname

Interestingly, Masha is married to a British man. At least, that is what she claims. However, open sources contain information about Taras Kushnerenko – a British citizen working in finance.

The only thing is that the surname Kushnerenko sounds strange for an Englishman. But everything becomes clearer if one considers that his father is Oleksandr Kushnerenko, who worked in the office of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov during the Yanukovych era. Apparently, it was important for the family that the son obtained a proper passport, rather than a Russian or Ukrainian one.

Masha's own father is Anatoliy Balyuk, an advisor to the fugitive President Yanukovych.

Studying in London and fleeing to the island

Taras has been studying in London since the 2010s. His wife Masha also received her education there. And now, with war raging in Ukraine, this "British" family, along with their Regional Party father and Regional Party father-in-law, is weathering the terrible times under the warm sun of an exotic island.

Everyone has their own war.