Thank God there are some good people in the world

Ukrainian refugees praise UK families for support & kindness

- LUCY THORNTON

SMILING faces, laughter and fun, this looks like any other festive party, but these revellers once feared they may never see another Christmas as war hit Ukraine.

And the families involved have thanked the kind-hearted British people who have put them up and helped them live normal lives after fleeing Vladimir Putin's deadly invasion.

More than 150 refugees attended the children's Christmas party at the weekend and pleaded for more sponsors to help their compatriots.

One, Alina Kusyi, 40, praised those who have already helped. The primary school teacher said: "Thank God there are good people in the world." The refugees opened up to the Mirror about their death-defying escapes from Ukraine. And told how the Homes for Ukraine scheme rescued them.

But they also warned a shortage of rental homes is leaving many struggling to find places to live here.

There are Ukrainian nuclear scientists and doctors who are now labouring in factories, an opera singer packing bulbs, and a lawyer cleaning.

Estate agent Dimitry Panasenko, 36, who helped organise the party in Rauceby Hall near Sleaford, Lincs, told of his "horror" escape from Kharkiv.

He had been visiting friends with his two-year-old son Ilay while his wife.

Maria was in Qatar working as a DJ.

Dimitry said: "We woke up and war had started. I saw a rocket flying past my window and destroy a nine-floor building, which collapsed.

"It was a horror story from then on.

We spent 10 days in an underground car park. Making food for the children was hard. Every time we had to go above ground to get food we were risking our lives with explosions every minute.

"I had to try to get my son to safety. I have a white car and we used black duct tape to make giant signs saying 'Kids here. Please don't shoot.

"That day they blew up the government house and we were 600 metres away.