A Ukrainian family fleeing full-scale assault from Russian forces in their home town have praised generous locals who helped turn their Balfron base into a home.
Olha Toporkova headed to Scotland with 15-year-old daughter Daryna and nine-year-old son Dmytro in July last year after being forced to flee for their life in Vovchansk, near Kharkiv – just six kilometres from the Russian border.
The family escaped the rocket attacks and violence in April and began their journey to Scotland, where they eventually secured a visa and were put up in the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ programme.
