FIVE Ukrainian families were welcomed to the Forest of Dean with open arms on Saturday (May 28) at a special event organised by villagers in Northwood Green.

The 11 refugees, who have come to the Forest through the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, had the chance to link up and share their experiences while enjoying tea, coffee and cakes at the event, which was organised by local residents Wendy Winfield and Hilary Paskins.

The families are staying locally with hosts in Westbury-on-Severn, Flaxley, Littledean and Minsterworth.

All had tales to tell of escaping their homeland and making their way to the UK, while having to leave loved-ones behind.

University lecturer Oksana Babych and her two ballet dancer daughters Kateryna (16) and Sofiia (14) told of how they heard planes flying low over their city when war broke out in February.

Leaving her husband behind, Oksana and her girls then began a gruelling journey, involving a 16-hour wait at the Polish border, before reaching a volunteer’s house in Warsaw before finally making their way to Gloucestershire.

They are now staying with Caroline and Mario Bassi and their two teenage children at their rural home, St John’s Point House, Northwood Green.

And sharing the accommodation is another family from the same city of Cherkasy - mother Liudmyla Ladorozhnia and her two daughters Kristina (15) and Arina (13).

Moving from the bustling life in this central Ukraine city to rural Gloucestershire is proving quite a challenge for teenage Kateryna and her sister.

“It was like moving from big city life to where my grandmother lives in the country,” she said. “We want to return when it is safe. We are very brave and proud of our country.”

She and her sister Sofiia and Liudmyla’s daughters are now studying at Dene Magna School near Mitcheldean, along with at least half a dozen other Ukrainian children.

Transport from their remote host home is an issue - but neighbour Wendy Winfield and her husband John have made a point of helping out.

Mother-of-two Olena Naiko, from Kyiv, told of how they didn’t believe it at first when the war started.

Her daughter Sofiia (16) woke her up in the middle of the night.

“I heard an explosion and thought it was in my dream,” said the teenager.

“I ran into my parents’ room and my mother told me to go back to bed!”

They were hearing the bombardment of Bucha just 12km away.

The Russians were approaching from several different directions and the family were holed up in Kyiv for 10 days.

They stayed for 50 days in Western Ukraine and eventually managed to cross the border with their two cats and two dogs, which are now in quarantine.

Olena said that they had no choice but to leave and her businessman husband has stayed behind.

The family are now staying with Dennis and Susan Suehr and their four teenagers at Flaxley Mill.

Other Forest families, who have welcomed Ukrainian families into their homes, are Pauline and James Dickins, from Littledean Hall, who are looking after Ifana and her daughter Victoria.

Jo and Simon Murray, from Broughton, Flaxley, are housing Nadia, while Nigel and Rita Garbutt, from Minsterworth, are taking care of Iryna Doskochynska.

Jo said that she was hoping that a series of meetings would be held for Ukrainian families in the Forest, as it was so important for them to be in touch as well as the host families.

District councillor and Westbury Parish Council chair Simon Phelps praised the great welcome given by Foresters to the refugees.

“Residents from Northwood Green and the surrounding area have demonstrated a very warm welcome to the Ukrainian families who have joined our community,” he said.

“Saturday’s event was a chance to meet and demonstrate our support as a community for these families.

“Let’s all hope that the independence and sovereignty of the whole of Ukraine will be returned to these valiant people and peace will be restored to them.”