Leeds café owner risks life to travel to Ukraine to save family

A Leeds café owner travelled 4,000 miles in four and a half days to save his family who live in Ukraine.

Luigi, who owns Dolce Vita Craft and Kitchen in Beeston Road, told customers of the popular cafe on March 1, "for the next couple of days I will be away."

He risked his life and travelled to Ukraine to get his sister-in-law and nephew to safety from Putin's war on the country.

Read more stories on the Russia Ukraine war here.

Luigi decided to close Dolce Vita for dine-in service, before travelling through five different countries in less than five days.

Customers who often pop into his cafe told the business owner to "take care", and "keep safe".

His journey began at Dover before he travelled over to Ukraine. The following day he shared that he was in Poland - where he found his wife's sister and her baby son Nikita.

Luigi travelled from Dover to Poland to get his sister-in-law and nephew to safety (Dolce Vita Craft and Kitchen)

Many Ukrainian families have found refuge in Poland. Poland is not expected to be dragged into an armed conflict but travellers to the country could face knock-on effects from the Russian attack on its neighbour.

On March 2 around 7.43am Luigi posted the three of them were reunited in Plock, Poland, and said: "On the way back to the UK but today I'm not alone. Here we are. Yana & Nikita (Vita's sister & her baby). Hope to give another chance to you."

Delighted to be reunited, the family were on the road. But when they arrived at the French border his "dream crashed".

Luigi said: "I had a dream...that crashed and got disintegrated at the French border. So close to the UK."

Luigi, who was on a mission to save his family last week, shared updates while he was on the road of his 4,000 mile journey (Dolce Vita Craft and Kitchen)

His friends in the Beeston community were also sharing updates about his journey.

On March 3 John Hardy said: "Well is anyone has been to Dolce Vita and Kitchen you will know Luigi. He is stuck at the French border with his sister-in-law and his nephew who lives in Ukraine. Time to set up a Go Fund Me page. Contact your MP and see how we can help him and his family."

Another friend Georgie Adamson said: "I spoke to him briefly this morning. He's been denied access to speak to UK border control by the French border guards. He was heading to see the Embassy in Brussels."

John later shared an update, and added: "They are going to a hotel tonight in France. Then to the Ukrainian Embassy to get a document for the child. The sister-in-law only had the clothes she was wearing."

After a night in France, sister-in-law Yana found out she was able to go to Italy where he mum lives. She managed to talked to the Embassy in Rome where she could get a passport for her son.

On March 4 Luigi's mission continued and he drove the pair to Italy.

He updated his customers on his business page and said: "Thanks to all of you for your support and the nice messages. I m so proud to be part of this community. We are OK and we are driving to Italy then I'll be back to Leeds."

Customers back in Leeds were delighted to hear the journey had progressed.

Joy Clarke said: "Such a relief hope everything goes well for their future safe journey to you all. So traumatic and unbelievable what they are having to go through."

Leeds cafe owner Luigi with his siter-in-law Yana and nephew Nikita on their way to Italy after he was reunited with them in Poland (Dolce Vita Craft and Kitchen)

Reni Hristova added: "Safe trip!!! You really make impossible-possible. I am sure there will be solution and soon Vita will give her sister a proper hug.

"The most important is that you are all safe and away from the war. Great job Luigi!"

The following day around 9.24pm, Luigi said: "Yana & Nikita are safe at home in Italy I'm safe at home in Leeds.

"I only drove 4k miles in 4.5 days. But doesn't matter the family is everything and it must to be done.

"As soon they feel better they will go to the authorities for the UK visa. Should be everything OK in couple of weeks.

"What I saw on the way from Ukraine it is unbelievable that this is happening again in the 2022. I hope, like everyone else, that this will have the end soon.

"Give me tomorrow to organise my kitchen we will back open on Monday definitely. Again a big thanks for the support I wasn't alone in the car. All of you went with me in this trip."

Now, business is back to normal; Luigi reopened his cafe on Monday (March 7) just three days after his family rescue mission.

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