A UKRAINIAN couple who run a business in Winchester have described their heartache as they say goodbye everyday to their son and mother over the phone.
Nataliia Yakymenko and Sergejs Ruckobskis, who live in Shirley and work for cleaning franchise Daily Poppins, said the Russian attacks on Ukraine have brought pain and sadness to their lives over the past week.
Mrs Yakymenko, 46, said: "Monday night my mother phoned to say goodbye which was very hard. We're very scared because loud bombs are dropping near her house. My son is an IT student at the Polytechnic University. He may have to go and fight. We haven't seen each other since November.
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"People are either hiding in a cellar underground to stay safe or making makeshift weapons to protect themselves and their family. Going outside is very dangerous because missiles are dropping everywhere and roads are blocked by Russian tanks."
Nataliia's mother, Nadya Shafranova, 71, and Nataliia's son Ilya Yakymenko, 23, are currently hiding in a basement to give themselves the best chance of survival, but they run the risk of starvation with supermarkets now empty and tanks blocking delivery drivers.
Mr Ruckobskis, 51, said: "They're worried about food. People are queuing in supermarkets for over three hours. If I was in the Ukraine, I would be going to fight. I need to fight for my family. I want to be able to support them. We feel lucky because we’re safe here but it’s better to be with our family."
Nataliia and Sergejs are just two of the many Ukrainians living in Hampshire, who are watching events unfold helplessly. They lost contact with their family in Ukraine on Tuesday after mobile networks were destroyed.
Sergejs said: "We spoke to mum and son three days ago. They were sad and crying because they're scared of dying. They're hiding in a basement underground. It's horrible. It's very stressful and so sad. We're finding it difficult to work and we are not sleeping."
The leader of Hampshire County Council, councillor Keith Mans, said: “As the world watches events unfold further in Ukraine, across Hampshire we all send our thoughts and prayers to the Ukrainian people, including those who are living in Hampshire. None of us would have expected to have seen such hostilities in Europe in these modern times, and we condemn the attacks on Ukraine’s innocent citizens.
“Hampshire County Council, in common with the rest of the country, is watching the concerning situation in Ukraine and stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and communities affected by this conflict. Should Government seek our support, we will assist as needed - building on our experience of supporting refugees and evacuees from previous conflicts.”
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