A UKRAINIAN woman who came to Bradford three decades ago described the moment her sister text to confirm her worst fears and has urged the Government to allow refugees into the UK. 

Nina Peacock, 47, moved to Wetherby last year but Greengates was where she first arrived from Ukraine as a 17-year-old in 1992.

She said: “I was just young.

“Ukraine got independence on August 24, 1991 and everybody started feeling Ukraine because of uncertainty, shops were empty.

“Luckily I had family here and could come over and it was possible to stay with them and as it happens I made a life for myself.

“It’s easy to settle down in a country when you’re young.”

But despite the UK becoming Nina’s adopted home, most of her family and those she grew up with as a child still live in Ukraine.

She said: “All my friends that I’ve grown up with are still all in Ukraine.

“I’ve had contact with them over the years and been back to the Ukraine and visited family there.

“My sister, nieces, uncles, aunties, my mum’s side, dad’s side.”

This has caused huge amounts of anxiety for Nina and the family she has over in the UK, given the current situation in her homeland, where Russia has aggressively invaded and people are being evacuated.

She said: “As most Ukrainians all over the world feel anxious and upset.

“But we’ve been independent for over 30 years, Kiev has become a cosmopolitan, modern city to visit and we’re proud.”

She added: “I’m grateful I’m living in the UK, but my family and heart are still with Ukraine and Ukrainian people.

Nina was very upset when the news of Russia’s attack emerged and described the exact moment she found out.

She said: “My sister contacted me, sent me a message and said, ‘the war in Ukraine has started’.

“I was trying to contact my sister, see what we can do, help out, advise her where to go.

“Eventually we decided it was best for her to leave home and cross the border to Poland, to find sanctuary there.”

Her sister is now staying with Polish family and Nina spoke with her on Thursday morning.

She said: “I talked to my sister this morning – the Polish people have been very, very supportive.

“She is herself overwhelmed with the support she has received.”

But Nina would like to do more than that – she has a safe home in the UK, so why can’t she house her sister and family there?

Nina is calling on the Government to give clearer guidance for those with family and friends over in Ukraine and to allow those in the UK to take in refugees.

She said: “I believe other nations need to get involved, not just Poland and Romania, they can’t cope.

“I’m not saying the UK hasn’t supported at all.

“I’m sure that the first aid is responding, humanitarian, they can’t help a lot more.

“We just need a clear indication as to what we can do.

“I’m not asking for the Government to help when they’re here, they wouldn’t be claiming, we’d be supporting them financially and morally.

“A lot of my English friends want to take refugees for the time being and give them a home – we’re not asking the Government for any support or money.”

Nina added: “I’m not a hero, I’m just trying to help family, people I know and do what I can.”