I used to live in Ukraine, in Kyiv.

Over the last few days I have been in regular contact with my ex-partner and friend, who is trying to flee the country. What she is going through is... awful.

Vira lives in Kyiv. I am trying to support her as she tries to make her route to Poland.

This is what I know so far -

Vira left Kyiv yesterday with her two young children, Alisa (Alice in Russian), Varvara & their dad. It took them a whole day of traveling but even then they still didn’t manage to get out of the Kyiv region due to the traffic.

Her mother has stayed in Kyiv but spent the night underground with Vira’s animals, near Vira’s house. Where her mother lives there have been many people injured so it is good she moved.

Vira is in recovery from having cancer and all of the pharmacies are closed. The cash machines are all empty. She can not get her medicine and is naturally very worried about this.

Last night whilst travelling they nearly ran out of fuel but they managed to get 20 litres at the petrol station. However, all of the stations are running out of fuel. They spent the night stranded on the floor, in a strange place, in a room filled with other scared people.

Vira and her family are heading west to Lviv (a beautiful and vibrant city) where she is trying to reach her step father to cross the border but he is panicking and scared so might leave without them.

Her ex-husband, the children’s father, can not leave the country due to the Ukrainian government calling on all males, aged 18 - 60, to stay and defend their homeland.

Vira and her children are going to try to reach Poland and hopefully meet with friends of friends. One of her many concerns is accessing the 5 (expensive) medicines she needs, which hopefully she can do in Poland. 1 type of the 5 she needs costs £200. I am unsure of the other costs at the moment.

Vira is concerned for the future and she will need some funds immediately for food, clothes, medicines, petrol (if they can find any) and perhaps even for somewhere to live.

If they reach Poland perhaps they can get UK visas and come here, which would of course be wonderful.

But for now, if anyone is in Lviv / Poland or knows anyone that could help her, please please do get in touch.

My friend Dominyka from Lithuania and her incredible friends are already doing what they can - thank you so much for everything you have been and are incredible people!

What’s next, I am not sure….. what I do know is they need help, so if you can or would like to help someone directly please do so here and please share this. If you would like to help further a field and not just to one family there are other ways to do so -

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RefugeeSupportUkraine

https://ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/russias-war-against-ukraine-what-can-you-do-to-support-ukraine-ukrainians/

Ukraine is a wonderful place and it breaks my heart to hear and see what all those people and that country are going through.

My time in Ukraine -

Kyiv - like chicken kiev as my mum says because when I called her to explain where I was she had no idea what I was talking about because I pronounced it the Ukrainian way.

What a beautiful city full of forest’s, huge rivers, massive lakes, man made beaches, incredible architecture, orthodox churches, and long wide sweeping boulevards.

I remember we used to eat cake for breakfast and I loved going to the market where I would buy what I later learnt was Halva, which they had in massive blocks. There was also this strange but delightful food which turned out to be walnuts covered in ‘grape’ juice, bright red - I loved it! The memory is one I treasure.

I could speak very very little Russian - ‘Stop the bus’ was one of my most used phrases. Yet I still met and spent time with so many wonderful, friendly, compassionate people.

I visited other areas whilst I was there - Odessa, Lviv, Crimea and other such stunning countryside . I hitch hiked the length of the country, taking in incredible port towns, beautiful colourful buildings, salt lakes, forests, beaches and more.

You name it, they….. had it.

My heart goes out to them all,

With thanks and love Alice X