Ukrainian refugees in Nottingham have spoken out about how they’re scared for their families back home and are appealing for a ‘quick response’ to get supplies sent to Ukraine. Over a year later, Ukraine is still a war zone. On June 6, was the destruction of Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka dam which led to widespread flooding putting people and animals at risk.
Thousands of people from parts of the Kherson region where water continues to surge down the Dnipro River which divides Russian and Ukrainian-controlled territory have been evacuated; however, some remain trapped on rooftops. Refugees in Nottingham have called what has happened ‘traumatic.’
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Anastasiia Baranova, 19, has lived in Nottingham since last year. The recent dam explosion was close to where Anastasiia lives and she says all she wants to do is ‘go home.’
Anastasiia said: “There are people sitting on rooftops [in Ukraine] shouting for help, the dams exploded in the middle of the night. Civilians and the military are trying to help everyone, it’s really traumatic a lot of chemicals are flooding into the Black Sea.
“Ukraine is an agricultural country and a lot of it is all flooded.”
Both Ukraine and Russia blame each other for sabotaging the Kakhovka dam.
Ann Vickers has been working with volunteers, refugees and organisations to fundraise for Ukraine. From Woodthorpe, last year, Ann and her husband Stuart helped refugees organise a charity fundraiser with head chef Yevhen Klopotenko.
Ann said: “What’s happened will affect the whole world. Right now, we need money donations so it can help buy life jackets, shovels, brooms, ladders, chainsaws - and body bags in Ukraine.
“There are mines coming up and going into places that were once cleared. A lorry of donations was sent on June 7 which should get to Ukraine in days.”
Anastasiia continued: “Raising money is quicker, there’s no time to be shipping donations sometimes even though they’re still really important right now, we need money. Money will help buy motorboats to lift bodies out of the water, the water is all contaminated now and dangerous.”
Anastasiia feels that international organisation’s aid doesn’t get to Ukraine quick enough and feels they’ve responded slowly with some, not responding at all.
Anastasiia added: “We need help, the Red Cross was invented to help in this situation but I don’t see them doing anything, we need a quick response. I’m thankful for what the UK has done for me but I want to go home for as long as we tolerate them [Russia] the war will continue.”
Nadiia Krasnikova is from Kherson. With her young son, Nadiia is currently being hosted by a family in Nottingham.
Nadiia said: “If I didn’t have my son, I would stay in Ukraine. A lot of people are scared, there are not a lot of volunteers, they are all going to war.
“There are a lot of animals, 300 in a zoo have died because the dam flooded and people need to take in animals if they can.”
To help make a payment to send supplies to Ukraine, if you’re in a position to do so, City Hub Ukraine’s Just Giving link is here. People can also email: cityhubukraine22@gmail.com to find out when it is best to drop off a donation of clothes and other items.
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