The daughter of a Ukrainian refugee who went on to become leader of the Liverpool branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said she has been "stunned" by the support she's seen for her family's home country.
Sandra Myndiuk Davidson said the sight of landmarks lit up in the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag had left her “in tears”.
A stranger also waited outside a coffee shop to give her money to donate to an appeal to buy essentials for Ukrainians besieged by Putin's forces.
READ MORE: Liverpool ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees
The Russian invasion has brought back bitter memories for Sandra as her late father, Joseph Myndiuk, fled with his family to the UK during World War II.
Joseph settled in Liverpool but his affection for his homeland never wavered and he was appointed the city branch leader of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, a role he served for more than 50 years.
Joseph died aged 89 in 2015, but the family's bonds with Ukraine remain. Sandra still has relatives living in the war-torn republic, in a village 50 miles from Ivano-Frankivsk and in Kyiv.
Ukraine’s plight has inspired Sandra, her daughter Sian and family to collect donated items for an appeal coordinated in the North West by Manchester's Ukrainian community.
Sandra said she has been "crying all the time" since Russian armed forces invaded on February 24.
Although Sandra said she “doesn’t want to start World War Three”, she has been “annoyed” by the official response of governments so far and believes there should be “more being done” to aid Ukraine.
She has, however, been impressed with Ukraine's president.
She said: “We’re looking at Zelenskyy, he’s a brilliant man.”
Public gestures of support, whether via donations or by displaying the yellow and blue of the Ukraine flag, have also left her feeling moved, telling the ECHO: “I’ve been touched a few times by people’s gestures.
“I’m part of The Sanctuary in Runcorn Shopping City, my husband and I we’re in the chaplaincy.
“I had a lady who came in and I came out of Costa with a coffee and she said ‘take this’.
“She had a wad of money. I said ‘I can’t’.
“She said ‘they need it, so take it’. I was absolutely stunned.
“My friend next door, she gave me a donation and other friends gave me a donation.
She continued: “I’m going to pay that into the bank, I’m paying that directly to the Ukrainian Association of Great Britain so that money goes exactly where it needs to go, nothing to do with arms but for all the refugees and all the people who need it.
“We’re lacking items that are desperately needed.
“People have been fab, that’s all I’ve had from friends, people saying ‘we’re with you’.
“People have been very supportive.”
Asked how she reacted when she learned the Mersey Gateway bridge between Widnes and Runcorn was illuminated in blue and yellow, she said: “It was lovely.
“I was in tears when my daughter told me.”
The Runcorn appeal is based at The Sanctuary chaplaincy in Runcorn Shopping City, and is collecting hats, scarves, gloves, socks, first aid kits, plasters, bandages, hygiene items, soap, shampoo, shower gel and other toiletries, nappies, children’s clothes, teddies, small toys, sleeping bags, blankets, towels and similar items, and canned and packet foods.
Donations can be dropped off from 11am-2pm, Monday to Wednesday and Friday.
Alternatively call Sandra on 07803 706 224.
To donate cash to the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, visit its “Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal” page at at gofundme.com
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