A Ukrainian couple collecting humanitarian aid to send back to their war-torn homeland have thanked the people of North Tyneside for their incredible outpouring of generosity.
Husband and wife Alina Kanishchuk and Jon Kazakry who run the Sushi Yammi Japanese Restaurant in North Shields, only started collecting essential supplies on March 2 in a show of support for their fellow Ukrainians following the Russian invasion 12 days ago.
And thanks to the “overwhelming” support of individuals and businesses, two aid consignments are already on their way to those most in need.
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Among the local businesses who have thrown their weight behind Alina and Jon’s aid effort is Morrisons Tynemouth, which has delivered nearly 20 trolleys full of donation pick-up bags prepared in-store containing everything from baby food to sanitary products and warm clothing bought and gifted by customers.
The sheer volume of donations being dropped off at Sushi Yammi as the human cost of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine becomes ever more apparent, has prompted Alina, 29, and Jon, 38, to hire a secure steel container as they have run out of storage space at the restaurant on Spence Terrace they opened two years ago.
Alina, who is mother to Nichole, 10, and Olivia, six, said: “The response has been overwhelming. We know local people are generous, but we never expected anything like this.
“Opening my heart, I want to say to every single person, a massive thank you.
“The kindness, generosity and messages of support has exceeded anything we could have ever imagined, and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.”
Asked why she thought people had been so open-handed, Alina added: “I think the horrific scenes coming out of Ukraine and the bravery of the Ukrainian people, has touched everyone deeply.
“They are watching it on TV, they are seeing the civilians who have been injured and killed, they are seeing the destruction, and they want to do what they can to help.”
Two Sushi Yammi aid consignments have already left the UK and a third will be going on Tuesday.
Alina said: “Some of the aid will go to Poland, some to Slovakia and some to Romania from where Ukrainian soldiers will take it over the border and see it gets to those most in need across Ukraine.
“Each day more areas are coming under attack and the need becomes greater for the people of Ukraine.”
Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia crossed the border on February 24 and began its bombardment of the country’s major cities and infrastructure.
In the besieged port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, residents are said to be living in desperate conditions with no water, food or electricity, and hospitals are operating from basements.
The invasion has sparked the biggest growing refugee crisis since World War Two. The United Nations refugee agency estimates 1.5 million people – mostly women, children and the elderly – have fled the country.
Evacuation attempts along ‘humanitarian corridors’ in the worst affected areas have so far had mixed success.
Alina and Jon both have relatives trapped in the Ukraine capital, Kyiv – including Jon’s mother Sveta.
She and husband Yuri Kazakry were visiting North Shields when Russia began mobilising on the Ukrainian border. Sveta, who works as a medical administrator, was called back to Kyiv on February 14, leaving Yuri behind in North Shields.
Now she is trapped in Kyiv, as is Alina’s sister, Ruslana, and mother.
Some of their male relatives have taken up arms as Kyiv comes under increasing shelling from Russian forces.
The family is keeping in touch via WhatsApp and Facebook. Alina said the situation is becoming worse each day. “I have spoken with my sister and she says there are shells going off all around her. It is impossible to sleep and everyone is very frightened.
“But thankfully everyone is alive and safe. Others have sadly not been so lucky and my heart bleeds for Ukraine and what is happening.
“Our hope is that the war will end very soon; we are praying for that. Our soldiers, our country, our president, our culture, our way of life – all will survive. It should. It will.
“With the support of Europe and the world we have to believe that.”
