Ukrainians in Scotland plead for an end to war as first anniversary beckons

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Ukrainians in Scotland have told of the year of torture they have endured - and how they pray that they can be reunited with loved ones in the coming 12 months.Tearful Valentina Lukianenko, who has reluctantly settled in Scotland, has just spent an emotionally charged three weeks back in Ukraine, reuniting with her husband and 21-year-old son for the first time in almost a year.She was determined to visit her loved ones - both names Andrei - and get back to safety in Scotland before the anniversary of Putin’s invasion on Friday.The anniversary date is a poignant moment of reflection for the 22,000 refugees now living in Scotland and others worldwide.Valentina came back on Sunday this week, her 42nd birthday.

It was the day after the 25th anniversary of her wedding to Andrei.She was fearful of a bloody Russian barrage that could see her trapped in her homeland and separated from daughter Anna, 12, who lives with her mum with Scottish sponsors in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, while attending primary school.Distraught Valentina trembled as she told of the trauma of leaving both Andreis back in the city of Krivoy Rog, which has been relentlessly shelled by Russian artillery.Valentina said: “I find it hard to talk about this because I have so much fear and sadness.“I had not seen my son and husband and friends for almost a year and it was like a dream to see them again.“But I knew all the time that I would have to leave them again and I do not know when I will see them again.“It was wonderful to be reunited but I have done so much crying and I just want this nightmare to be over.

We all do.”Valentina has become very close to kind-hearted sponsors Holly Ehret, a hairdresser, and husband Andy Brown, a computer programmer, who