An Okehampton resident from Ukraine says he has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support from local people as the Russian invasion of Ukraine escalates further.

Slava Nodd, who grew up in Ukraine, has described the British response to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis as ‘incredible’ as friends and family come forward to offer him their support.

He said: ‘I can’t speak about it without tears. All my friends and family are in Ukraine but I am really glad as I have had a few phone calls from them so I know they’re alive. But they’re living day to day. It’s a proper war not just a conflict.’

Thousands of Ukrainians are now crossing the border into Poland and Okehampton residents are stepping up to offer their support as governments across the West are being urged to offer their help. Mr Nodd added: ‘Many people who know me have come up and asked how they can help. I am so touched. I would say that the best way to help is to offer day to day stuff.’

There is a massive group of people who have left [without any of their things].’

Mike Davies, minister of Okehampton’s Inspiration Church and friend of Slava, is just one Okehampton resident offering assistance to the Ukrainians.

He said: ‘I am connected with various churches in Ukraine. Most of the familes who were in Kyiv have left, leaving husbands behind. Our churches in the south-west of Ukraine are working hard to provide shelter and food, although food is limited.

‘I have managed to link up with a church connection we have in Hungary who is close to the border. We are having difficulties with language as Google Translate only works to a certain extent.’

Okehampton Town Councillor Dr Michael Ireland has also voiced his deep concern about the fate of the Ukrainian refugees and will be hosting a coffee morning on Saturday (March 5) in aid of the Red Cross, which is working to protect the refugees.

He said: ‘Much of my career as a university lecturer was spent travelling, teaching and working in the countries now affected by the crisis. It’s really hit home as it’s affected people I knew and travelled with.

‘I have actually been to these places and met these people and know what they are going through. It’s really had a personal resonance.’

The coffee morning will be held in the Charter Hall from 9:30am-12:30pm with tea, coffee, cake sales and a raffle. So far, sixteen Okehampton businesses have donated prizes for the morning’s raffle, including the Waitrose, Co-op, Dogberry and Finch and Koast. Despite usually using Waitrose funds for local charities and organisations, the Okehampton branch has taken an unprecedented step and donated two Easter-themed prizes for the raffle.

Jude Swift, community champion at Okehampton’s Waitrose, said: ‘We recognise that the current war in Europe is an extraordinary situation, and also that the strength of feeling within the local community is very high. Okehampton has a significant population with Eastern European heritage, many of whom still have families living much closer to the fighting, and whose countries are currently receiving thousands of refugees.

‘Consequently we agreed at a branch level that despite the event not meeting our usual criteria, it would be entirely appropriate for us to support it regardless.

‘We sincerely hope that as many people as possible are able to attend the coffee morning, and especially that the raffle is well supported.

‘Raffles can raise significant amounts for fundraisers, and we are proud to support this one — and proud of our town council for their swift response to the war.’

Okehampton Town Councillor Jan Goffey also added her support to the cause, saying: ‘We have had people volunteering to man stalls and bake cakes, all we need now is people to come and spend money. We need to raise as much money as possible.’

The Red Cross volunteers inside and outside Ukraine are working to ensure the safety of the Ukrainian refugees.

So far, the Ukrainian, Polish, Moldovan, Slovakian and Romanian Red Cross volunteers have distributed 30,000 food and hygiene parcels, provided first aid training to 1,000 people sheltering in metro stations and bombshelters, offered refugees temporary accommodation and provided them with SIM cards to keep in touch with friends and family.