First Ukrainian refugees settling in a village have reported that the UK host “don’t feel like strangers, more like family.”
As many as 45 refugees could be housed by sixteen hosts located at North Moreton, Oxfordshire.
Irina Kryvoviaz, 39, with their son Sasha Kryvoviaz, eight, and her godson Yaroslav Kryvoshyia (17), were in the UK on Thursday.
They all have left their families who live in their hometown city in Cherkasy, located in the central region of Ukraine.
Mrs. Kryvoviaz must be separated from her family and her husband, too.
The mother, father, and brother are in Ukraine.
“I worry about them every minute,” said Mrs. Kryvoviaz, translated by Mr. Kryvoshyia. “I think about them, how they are.”
“I slept this night maybe five hours because I woke up and I couldn’t sleep because I have so many thoughts in my head.”
The trio is being housed by Sarah Allen Stevens and their husband Steven Rudge at their home.
Watch: The Oxfordshire village opening its arms to Ukrainian refugees
Mr. Kryvoshyia has his room, Mrs. Kryvoviaz shares the house, and Sasha has a room in a different.
“She’s very moved by the fact that Sarah and Steve allowed us to live here,” Mr. Kryvoshyia expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Kryvoviaz.
“They don’t feel like strangers at all, more like family. She’s very grateful for their help.”
Mr. Kryvoshyia said: “My mother doesn’t want to leave, but she added, only if the circumstances worsen.
“[She] decided that I should move out to some other country. I didn’t really want to. I wanted to help her.”
Yaroslav Kryvoshyia found himself sheltering in bunkers as war broke out in Ukraine
Ms. Allen-Stevens stated that the couple watched the news from Ukraine. She and her husband felt compelled to take action.
She said: “When these guys moved from their current location to begin traveling, I would have felt like a narcissistic mother.
“You create an emotional bond fast and quickly with guests.
“I’m just so glad that they’re here and they’re safe and we can start working on the next steps.”
