A Ukrainian woman living in Spalding has thanked residents for signs of support around town as she contemplates helping her family escape Russia’s invasion of her homeland.
Lesia Ward is talking everyday to her parents mum Tamara (83) and dad Vasyl Fedyna (87) and in the city of Zaporizhzhia where she grew up and which hit the headlines recently after Russian forces shelled the nearby nuclear power station.
She’s arranging for her niece Anastasia to come to the UK after her parents, sister Larysa and her husband Mykhaylo, fled the fighting to Poland where they wish to stay for now close to their homeland.
“My parents are in their 80s and staying in their home in Zaporizhzhia,” said Lesia, who moved to Spalding in 2015 after marrying her husband with whom she was in Ukraine on holiday last month, returning the day before the invasion began.
“I was not sure how I could get them over. Trains are full, people sleep on the floor in the corridor. I don’t think my mum would make it.
“They remember World War Two, and it’s horrible they have to go through it again.
“My deceased grandparents would be shocked to know that Russia attacked Ukraine.
“I do worry about my parents a lot. I worry if Russian troops break through, they may have no food or medication and no help at all.
“A friend of mine from Ukraine lives in Rugby and her parents are in Melitopol which is now occupied by Russians and not so far from my hometown.
“They are running out of food and pharmacies are not working.
“You’re asking me about my family, it feels like we are all one big family and the whole country is in pain.
“It is absolutely shocking what’s going on. Ukraine is a three-hour flight from London, very close. It’s unimaginable horror in the centre of Europe.
“When it started, every week it felt like it was not real.
“Russian tanks, bombs, missiles, deaths and it’s getting worse every day.
“I’ve struggled to be at work, I could cry any minute thinking about my homecountry. Waking up and reading news every day is heartbreaking.”
Lesia is friends with two other Ukrainian women who live in Spalding, Nadiya Pysarenko and Liudmyla Kapica
She’s thankful for the shows of support she’s seen in and around Spalding as well as the donations to refugees.
“I appreciate to see the donations and it’s been overwhelming to see Ukrainian flags everywhere.
“I want to say to the kind people in Spalding that the donations and the support are incredible.
“I received messages from strangers saying their heart goes out to Ukraine.
“Every Ukrainian flag I see here reminds me that we are not alone in this big battle for Ukraine.
“I have been helping financially Ukrainian volunteers, dog breeders and zoos, money is an instant help in some cases.
“I think that Ukrainian refugees are at least safe if they are out of Ukraine.”
That includes her niece Anastasia with Lesia saying she appreciates the UK government’s moves to simplify getting her here.
Her sister wants to remain close to Ukraine.
“A lot are staying,” she continued. “We believe in the Ukrainian army and in all the support from the West, hoping this can be ended soon.
“It is so openly mad from the side of the Russian leader that we believe there is no other way for Russia but to capitulate.
“We had a fabulous time in Ukraine less than a month ago, visited my parents and we came back on the 23rd.
“The next day all this horror started.”
