A WOMAN has said she does not know when she will see her Ukrainian family again as war rips through the country.
Kirsty and Sergiy Lyevashov, from Hagley, have spoken of their worry and upset for their family members living in Kyiv.
Sergiy’s mother, brother, sister, and brother-in-law are living either in the capital or on the outskirts, taking cover in bunkers underneath homes to protect their lives.
Sergiy’s brother-in-law, Eugene, is currently fighting on the front line as a soldier and a medic whilst Sergiy’s sister, Sophia, is delivering essential aid to civilians.
His mother, Olga Lyevashov, is 65 years old and was barricaded in her home with neighbours as Russian troops advanced through the neighbourhood on Tuesday night.
Kirsty said they have been keeping regular contact with the family when they have been above ground.
She said: “We are in regular contact with them until they need to go underground when the sirens go off.
“They cannot get phone signal in their bunkers and sometimes they can be down there for three to four hours.
“We have to rely on the news for updates and see which town the Russian troops have gone into next.
“We encouraged the family a few weeks ago to get out of Ukraine but they remained defiant and wanted to fight for their country.
“Now you cannot get in or out of the city, but they wouldn’t want to leave neighbours and friends anyway.
“However, they are terrified.”
Kirsty, aged 36 and Sergiy, aged 44 have two children, Tom and Maddie, aged 13 and 10.
The family were due to fly out to see their relatives in Ukraine in June, but this has been cancelled.
“Our children are really scared, and Maddie is really upset as she has not seen her nan for four years now due to the Covid pandemic,” said Kirsty.
“We don’t know when we are going to see them again.”
Kirsty and Sergiy have felt helpless whilst the Russian invasion rumbles on.
Sergiy has struggled to sleep and eat due to the constant worry of his family’s safety.
So, the couple, with the help from Kirsty’s workplace, Lex Allan Grove, have organised a raffle and bake sale and created a fundraising link to raise vital money for the Ukrainian community.
Kirsty added: “We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the Hagley community.
“It’s been a really emotional time and I haven’t stopped crying.
“We have had so many amazing raffle prizes donated and I can’t thank people enough.
“Sergiy is the first person to offer help to anyone and is so hardworking, so I think it has prompted people to give something back.”
The couple has smashed their £1,000 donation target by raising more than £5,500 via their link.
The raffle and bake sale will be held outside Lex Allan Grove on Worcester Road in Hagley on Saturday, March 5.
The sale will start at 9 am and continue until all cakes are sold.
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