A Perth and Kinross councillor is returning to Ukraine for the first time since bravely rescuing children from Dnipro orphanages and bringing them to Scotland.
The local hero has been highly commended with numerous awards for his valiant efforts in evacuating the children from the war-torn country.
This weekend Steven will return to Dnipro to visit children and the orphanage families connected to his charity that are still there and offer support.
Following his two-week mercy mission last March Steven Carr was elected to Perth and Kinross Council in May 2022 as the SNP elected member for Strathallan ward. However he will not be in Ukraine on council business but again as part of his work with Dnipro Kids - a charity he founded with Hibs fans when the Scottish football side played Dnipro in the UEFA Cup in 2005.
The charity has been working to care for orphans in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine since 2005 and Steven is always moved by the warm welcome he is shown every time he visits.
He said: "It'll be emotional. It always is. I've been doing it for 17 years and I'm always met with smiles and cuddles.
"There are a few things that we need to sort out. And I'm going to see the families and children that remain in Dnipro and make sure they get support.
"We have one orphanage that never got evacuated so I need to visit them. The kids here all got Christmas presents so I need to make sure they get something too."
Steven was saddened to see the city he has spent so much time in devastated by a missile strike last weekend.
He said: "It's very concerning and difficult for everyone there.
"The missile strike was right next to an aqua park where we used to take the children during the holidays. Seeing the devastation on TV of somewhere I have been really brings it home."
Despite the war people in Ukraine have been trying to carry on with their lives as much as normal.
Steven said: "For the most part, people in Ukraine are still trying to get on with the rest of their lives as best they can. It's obviously horrendous what's going on but the vast majority are still trying to keep some semblance of normality. It can be a bit surreal."
Steven will set off on his lengthy three-day journey to get there this weekend with a flight out to Poland followed by an epic 18-hour train journey over to the Eastern Ukraine city of Dnipro.
He will have three days in Dnipro before then facing the three-day journey back home.
More information about the work of Dnipro Kids can be found at dniprokids.com
