HELEN Stanislawski has been overwhelmed with support from the community, with phone calls, flowers, and offers of help since President Putin of Russia invaded her country of birth, Ukraine.

“People have been really wonderful,” she said.

“People I don’t even know have phoned me to offer their support and to let us know they are thinking of us.”

All the nights have been sleepless since, with the worry about the safety of her mother, sisters, brother, her nephews, and nieces, who all live in Ukraine.

There have been constant phone calls to and from Ukraine to get updates, with the situation not improving in the two weeks since the invasion began, and the advancement of the Russian troops.

Mrs Stanislawski’s family initially tried to cross the border into Poland, but as her brother, brother-in-law, and nephews were not allowed to leave Ukraine, they refused to be separated as a family and decided to return together to Lviv in the west of the country.

One of Mrs Stanislawski’s sisters has since made the heartbreaking decision to leave her husband and sons and cross into Poland with her daughter, daughter-in-law, and children.

Mrs Stanislawski was distressed to learn that one of her nephews, her sister Lilia’s son, aged 30 and until recently employed as a baker, has been called up to the Ukraine army to fight against the Russian invasion. 

“We don’t know where they have stationed him, this was really upsetting news to receive,” she said.  

“He is ringing his Mum every day and says he is okay, but we don’t really know.

“We have the TV on to receive the latest news but it’s really painful to watch.

“Innocent people and children are dying because of this one man (Putin).

“They (the Russian forces) have destroyed Kharviv, a really, really beautiful city, and to see it bombed and with so much damage is just heartbreaking.

Mrs Stanislawski said that if people want to help, there are international organisations accepting donations that are distributing food and other supplies to the Ukrainian people and its armed forces.

She said that her family reported that Poland has been wonderful to the Ukrainians, bringing food and medical supplies to the border, and strangers taking in refugees.

“Everyone is on edge, but we will not give up.”