Nairn mum hoping to be reunited with family fleeing the Ukraine invasion
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A UKRAINIAN mum living in Nairn is hoping soon to be reunited with her mother and other family who are fleeing the war-torn country.
Iryna Polovska has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Highlanders in sending provisions to aid refugees as millions flee the bombs in her homeland.
Iryna came to Scotland to live in Nairn with her Italian husband Diego Ferrari in 2014 with their daughter Anita (11).
The family still have many relatives in Ukraine, many of whom live near the western city of Lviv.
Iryna explained her mum Lilia (58) has already escaped with her sister-in-law Maria and Maria’s son Platon (7) to Poland, and then on to Germany.
“Thankfully they are with a very good family who have internet access and I can speak to them every day. I am hoping to bring them here to Scotland where they will be safe.”
Iryna described an anxious day when she lost touch with her mum after she fled to Poland with her nephew and sister-in-law.
“I was working in Inverness packing boxes to send to the refugees and I couldn’t get in touch. It was very worrying. Then I got a call from aid workers in Poland who put my mum on the phone. It was such a relief to speak to her. I got home and fell asleep because I was physically and emotionally exhausted.”
Iryna added: “I first got involved (in the aid effort) when I heard the Polish Association in Aberdeen were hoping to send a van with aid. At first it was planned to send one van. But before long it was three lorries. Our lorry was delivered to an Aberdeen-based charity which is run by two lovely Polish ladies. They are doing the hardest job of sending the lorries to Ukraine and Poland.”
Iryna’s hope was to get a car of supplies to Aberdeen.
“But the response has been incredible. Before long we knew we needed a lorry and DR Macleod gave us one from Inverness to take a container. Storage was kindly provided by Self Storage 4U near Ardersier.”
She continued: “I am lost for words when thinking about the incredible support and generosity people around me are showing.
“Unfortunately already there has been so much destruction that it will take time to rebuild our beautiful peaceful country. But I am confident the day when we start rebuilding will come very soon.”
Iryna’s husband is a lorry driver and he made the trip with the aid to Aberdeen.
