A new humanitarian appeal to help Ukrainian soldiers suffering in underground bunkers is under way in Dumfriesshire, with the region marking the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Throughout today, main council buildings will be flying the Ukrainian flag in solidarity and a service will be held at St John’s Church, Lovers Walk, Dumfries at 5.30pm.
It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the nearby war memorial from 6.30pm.
In the meantime, an appeal is being led from the Hallmuir Ukrainian Chapel near Lockerbie on behalf of soldiers near Kharkiv.
They urgently need heat packs, over-the-counter medicines, bandages, and cash donations to help fighters holed up in trenches in the bitter cold.
The tiny chapel played a vital aid role in the early weeks of the invasion last year when thousands of donations of goods were gathered there in a response led by Mary MacRae, whose Ukrainian parents settled in Annan.
They were taken to a charity in Poland and distributed to Ukrainian refugees who escaped their war-torn country with little or nothing.
The building was first re-purposed as a chapel by Ukrainian prisoners of war in the years following World War II, when more than 400 of them were sent to work in agriculture and forestry.
Now, 76 years on, the descendants of those who stayed in the area, and refugees given safe haven in the region in the past year, are co-ordinating the latest appeal.
Refugee Tatiana Bondarenko, who has both a husband and a son on the front line, set it in motion after they asked her for medicines, sapper shovels and hand warmers.
Peter Kormylo, a spokesman for the local Ukrainian community, said: “It is still winter there with freezing conditions and the Ukrainian Territorial Army near Kharkiv are on the front line the trenches to defend the area. They are dug in and battling terrible conditions, fighting to survive and protect.
“Through modern technology families are in touch and know that they have specific needs and want to help, which is why the appeal is under way.
“Some soldiers are suffering from frostbite and flu and we have the opportunity to help them.
“We hope people in Dumfriesshire and beyond will again support us in this appeal.
“All contributions will be gratefully received.
“So far we have had an amazing response and I have just had a thank you back from the Ukrainian Territorial Army to say that cash we have raised so far has been used by them to buy vital paraffin for the heaters that they have to keep them warm in the underground bunkers.”
Among the medicines the soldiers have asked for are painkillers, hemostatic Panthenol cream, cold and flu medicines, multivitamins; as well as bandages and other dressings.
In addition, cash donations are needed so that antibiotics which can’t be sent because of UK regulations can be bought there.
The chapel will be open on Monday and Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm for the collection of donations, and dates for March will be put up on the Hallmuir Facebook page.
In addition, donations can be taken to the Lockerbie Old School’s weekly lunch club at the town hall between 11am and 2pm every Tuesday.
