Two Ukrainian teenagers brought to the North East by a Rowlands Gill woman are adjusting to their temporary home - but say they are missing their normal lives in the now war-torn country.
Daniil Dushaiev, 15, and Kate Kozyrieva, 13, finally arrived in the Gateshead village three weeks after Daniil's sister, Slava Shumihin, flew to Poland to bring them to safety in the UK.
And the youngsters have told how their relief at being safe is tempered by their worry for the families they have left behind in Ukraine. "I miss my friends and I really miss my mum," said Daniil, while Kate is missing the family dog as well as her parents and older brother.
Read more: Family trapped in Ukraine by 'ridiculous' visa delays face horror of hiding from bombs each night
Slava, 36, who has lived in Rowlands Gill for two years with her 40-year-old husband Oleg, told how she travelled from the UK to collect her younger brother, and ended up with her young cousin, Kate, into the bargain. And after a 22 day wait, while the children's UK visas were sorted out, the three finally boarded a flight to Newcastle Airport on March 31.
Slava and Daniil's mum, Anhela, who is staying in Ukraine as a volunteer in the Territorial Defence Force in capital Kyiv, put Daniil on an evacuation train to Lviv, where he was met by Slava. Kate was originally going to stay with her parents and older brother in their village outside Kyiv, but her parents were growing increasingly concerned about their daughter's safety and made the snap decision to evacuate her after the village next to theirs was bombed.
"We had to go into the basement and we heard a lot of bombs and shooting,'" said Kate. "My parents made a really quick decision and drove me for 10 hours to the border, where I met Salva and Daniil. "I left so quickly I was wearing my mum's shoes, which are two sizes too big, and my brother's hoodie."
Daniil travelled eight hours alone by train to reach Lviv, where he stayed in a relative's house before Slava arrived to collect him. Slava, who moved to the UK from Kyiv two years ago with her husband, Oleg, flew to Krakow on March 9 and travelled to Przemysl in Poland before joining an evacuation train to Lviv in Ukraine. All three travelled back to Poland, where they waited to receive their visas, before travelling back to the UK.
And now the children are settling in Slava and Oleg's home in Rowlands Gill, and hope to start school soon. In the meantime, they are studying remotely with lessons supplied by their Ukrainian schools.
Although the pair are looking forward to school, they are both nervous of learning in a different language to their mother tongue, although both have studied English. Daniil is interested in film production, sport and was a member of school theatre in Ukraine, although he says he enjoys all lesson. Kate's favourite lessons is Ukrainin language and literature and she would like to be an actress. She is also a member of school theatre and loves art.
And as well as their visitors, Slava and Oleg are also having to adjust, and get used to life with two teenagers in their small two-bedroom home.
"We weren't expecting to be parents of two teens yet and we are not really prepared for this life turn," said Slava. "Our home isn’t suitable enough for four people, we have had to buy everything for them, from clothing to school supplies, as they have nothing with them.
"We are looking around for a bigger house, as we have no idea how long Daniil and Kate will be with us. They won't be going back to Ukraine until things settle down there though. Both Oleg and myself work from home, and the second little bedroom was an office, but we have had to give that up to make space for Daniil and Kate, so it's all a bit chaotic here!
But both Slava and Oleg are adamant they wouldn't have things any other way and are only too glad to do whatever they can to help, even if it means adapting their child-free lives to the needs of two teenagers.
"We have been doing our best to show them how beautiful the area is. We have taken them on bike rides and to the rowing club, and have also visited Beamish Museum," said Oleg. "We are also looking for sports clubs and other activities, to make them feel better and adapt quickly."
And although the couple have their hands full now, they are still trying to help their friends and relatives in Ukraine by finding homes for those who want to leave, although Slava says that most people want to stay in Ukraine. "I put out a message asking local people to consider opening their homes to Ukrainians, and I was overwhelmed with local support," she said. "I got nearly 20 offers from local people in Rowlands Gill and more than 15 from further afield, so huge, huge support from North East people.
