Ukrainian living in Herefordshire fears for family as Putin invades

Liliia Jozefowicz, 53, is living in Kington while her family bears the brunt of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

Amid growing casualties – including shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building, bridges, and schools – were increasing signs that Moscow may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, in Vladimir Putin’s boldest effort yet to redraw the world map and revive Moscow’s Cold War-era influence.

Liliia Jozefowicz calls her family everyday. Picture: Rob Davies

Mrs Jozefowicz is in fear for her daughter, mother, brother, extended family and friends in Kyiv.

“I call my family several times a day, despite the fact that I am very far away, it is very important for me to know that they are safe,” she said.

She has also been a school teacher for 31 years and has a lot of previous students still in the country.

“I am very worried about all of them. My heart is breaking into pieces with pain,” she said.

She cannot understand why the president of Russia Vladimir Putin could lead the invasion.

“When I learned early on the morning of February 24 that Russia had attacked Ukraine, I was shocked,” said Mrs Jozefowicz.

“How? How could they do it? Like the Nazis in 1941, at 4 o'clock in the morning. They bombed Kharkov, Odessa, Mariupol, and my native Kyiv.

“For what? Why? What has Ukraine done wrong to Russia? Why did they come to kill civilians? Women, children, old people? Putin's personal ambitions? Does he want to be the ruler of the world? But these are the dreams of a sick person.”

She arrived in Kington on August 2, 2019, to visit her husband, who is a citizen of Poland.

The couple are now working together in Kington at the Burton Hotel.

They are trying to support their loved ones in Ukraine from Herefordshire by transferring money to a special account to support the army.

“I thank everyone who supports me and my country Ukraine in this difficult moment,” she said.

Mrs Jozefowicz stands by her country as they suffer.

“My people will never kneel. Ukraine is a free and independent state. We don't want war.”

“Ukrainian soldiers will never surrender. They will fight until they die. I beg all sane people not to watch or listen to Russian propaganda.

“Trust only official Ukrainian sources and know Ukraine will win.”