UKRAINE CRISIS ‘WE JUST WANT PEACE'

Olha and Lera are devastated for their beloved home country

On an eerily quiet subway platform deep beneath the normally bustling streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a lone trumpeter gives an unwavering rendition of his country’s powerful national anthem.

Almost 15,000km away in a quiet suburb of Brisbane, Ukrainian-born sisters, Olha Yenalieieva, 37, and Lera Drahomirova, 43, sit glued to the TV, hopeful that one day soon they get the news they’ve been praying for since Russia declared war on their beloved homeland.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to be here in Australia – especially for our children,” mum-of-three Olha – who is married to champion boxer Jeff Horn’s dad, Jeff Sr – shares with Woman’s Day.

“Ukrainian people, like Australians, are very much family first. Our hearts are with our loved ones back home – it’s impossible to imagine mothers, just like us, and what they’re enduring right now,” she says with a heavy heart.

“The subway has been repurposed into underground shelters – they’re living in the most inhumane conditions. But like the Aussies, we’re incredibly resilient, and they’ll be gathered together making sure they’re looking out for one other.”