Family of Ukrainian Woolton Hill resident settle in West Berkshire after fleeing war-torn Ukraine

The family of Ukrainian Woolton Hill resident Tanya Tame have safely settled with a family in West Berkshire after fleeing the war-torn country.

Tanya Tame’s parents, Alexander and Kateryna, her sister, brother-in-law, and their young son escaped from central Ukrainian city Cherkasy after spending four nights in a cellar while rockets flew overhead.

After a lengthy wait while their family migration visas were processed, the family have now arrived in the UK and are staying in Great Shefford.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News through Mrs Tame as interpreter, Alexander said it had been an incredibly difficult decision to leave and hoped to return to Ukraine one day.

He said: “To leave everything and go was very hard – our homes are there and we’d lived there all our lives.

“We tried to pack our bags but we didn’t want to leave and we hoped it would settle.

“As time went on, we realised it was just getting worse and more cities were being bombed.”

Mrs Tame said if it was just her father he may not have left, but he chose to due to his family.

He continued: “I’m very proud of the Ukrainians and feel guilty I’m not part of the resistance on the ground.

“Even though I’m almost 70, I want to support everyone there.”

Mrs Tame’s family made the decision to leave Ukraine on February 25, the day after Russia began its invasion of the country.

However, their 20-hour drive to the Moldovan border was interrupted by sudden sirens in what was feared to be a potential "imminent air attack".

They stayed in their cellar for four nights, before eventually fleeing and making the long drive to Moldova, and then across Romania to Budapest in Hungary, where they stayed in an apartment while making the necessary visa applications – a process described by Mrs Tame’s husband, Alex, as a “fiasco”.

They were finally granted the family migration visa – which allows family members of British nationals or people settled in the UK to come to the UK – and arrived in the country last week.

Alexander added that he had “no words” to express his gratitude to all the countries that had stepped up to help Ukraine, and that he was “so grateful” to their host.

He added: “Ukrainians have a thirst for freedom and eventually they will win, but it’s going to be a very difficult journey.

“We’re so grateful to our host and their family who accepted us – they really care and worry for Ukraine and they understand us and our pain.

“They really try and help us be part of the community.”