Sir Rod Stewart has been hailed a "hero" by a Ukrainian dad, after funding a UK home for his family of seven.
In an exclusive yesterday, Sir Rod, 77, told the Mirror that he has found a house for couple Rostyslav and Olena, and their five children, after they fled war-torn Ukraine.
The music legend also furnished the Berkshire home and pledged to pay their rent and bills for at least a year.
Sir Rod and his TV star wife Penny Lancaster, 51, were left horrified when they watched the coverage of the invasion in Ukraine, and the singer felt compelled to make a difference.
In a statement yesterday Rostyslav and Olena, who don't speak English and arrived with no money, thanked Sir Rod and his family for "their openness and genuine and big hearts".
The couple, who are parents to Taras, 17, Kostya, 16, Roman, 13, Mariia, 10, and Dymtro, two, added that thanks to the sponsorship and hard work of Sir Rod's nephew, Warren, "our children are now safe and able to learn normally in school."
The family's thanks to Sir Rod doesn't stop there, as they now play his music in the house as a tribute, Rostyslav told Mail Online.
Describing the singer as "great hero", the dad-of-five said he is now Sir Rod's "biggest fan".
He added: "I play his music every day, every day! My favourite is Sailing. I love the version he does with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
"My children love his songs, too. We play his music on You Tube. He is a very great singer and a very great man."
The dad-of-five also said that when they moved into the home, the family did not know Sir Rod was their sponsor, describing it as a shock and surprise.
Speaking to the Mirror, Sir Rod recollected meeting the family for the first time recently.
"I walked through the door and they all came running down the stairs, all beautifully dressed in Ukrainian national costume.
"It was so lovely that they all made that effort. They made me a cup of tea and we had loads of biscuits and chocolates, although the baby kept nicking all of mine. It really was wonderful."
As well as helping the Rostyslav, earlier this year Sir Rod and Warren organised three trucks filled with supplies, which were driven to Ukraine.
Sir Rod said he thought for a long time about whether he should tell the world of his efforts.
He revealed that being knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity has altered his mindset.
"I usually keep all my charitable efforts nice and quiet and just do it. But I thought, 'I am a knight, I have been given this knighthood because of the things I've achieved in my life and the charity work I've done over the years'," he said.
"But that was the past; I want to be seen to be doing something now. I am a knight, I should be using my power to do something for people."
