Oleg and Natalia from Ukraine

Dear Friends,

In the middle of  July, a Ukrainian couple called Oleg Kiysilov and Natalia Zoshchak were forced to leave their home in Siversk, Eastern Ukraine, because Russian forces were just a few kilometers away. In 2014 the town was occupied and then liberated and has remained near the frontline ever since. They had lived there for many years on a small farm - one hectare/two and a half acres - growing raspberries and corn. The story of their journey is a long one but worth knowing. I will give you the bare outline. On 5th July, a shell exploded at the end of their garden. They decided to leave. Natalia left straight away with one of her sons. They drove over one thousand kilometres for two and a half days and arrived at Korosten in northern Ukraine, where her son lives. Oleg left ten days later with his blind invalidated father, who is 84 years old. Oleg had to queue for four days to get petrol. They arrived at Korosten following a similar route, including a car breakdown. Oleg's father stayed with one of Oleg's sons there. At this stage, Oleg and Natalia decided to leave Ukraine as they were living in a shelter with no prospect of work. In addition, he has prostate cancer, for which he cannot get the necessary treatment in Ukraine at present. After researching online, they chose Ireland because of the weather!!!

They left Korosten on Monday, 15 July and went to Kyiv by bus - a four-hour trip, then traveled sixteen hours overnight by train to Odesa arriving on Tuesday. They spent the night there. On Wednesday, they took a bus from Odessa to Bucharest in Romania, a journey of 14 hours, arriving in the early hours of Thursday. They slept in a tent. On Thursday evening, they flew to Dublin, arriving late and sleeping on the floor at the airport. The following day they were taken to Citywest for processing, and in the evening of Friday 15th, they arrived at my house, exhausted and traumatised, with all their worldly possessions in two backpacks and four shopping bags.

Since then, they have begun to recover and learn English. We have got to know each other; they are a lovely couple. They are now my friends, and I consider myself lucky to have met them. Any inconvenience of having two strangers in my home is outweighed by their good company. Some of you have met them and can attest to this.

Still, their hearts are in Ukraine, where they would like to return to as soon as possible, but not to the Siversk area.

I have decided to help them by organising a fundraising campaign to raise the necessary funds. If you are willing and able to join me in this endevour, that would be wonderful.

When I told Oleg of the plan he was speechless and burst into tears. 

The target is €20,000 which will buy a small farm, house and car in south-western Ukraine not far from Odessa.If by chance we over-achieve, the surplus will be used for a similar purpose.

I am asking you to do up to four things:

1) seriously consider whether your heart is up to help

2) if so, can you afford to help

3) if so, click on the link below to make a donation

4) if you know anyone, who might also be able to help, please forward this email to them.

Any amount will be gratefully received; the suggested amount is €100; if you wish to give more please do.

Oleg and Natalia have identified a suitable property and are ready to make an offer.

So if you would like to help please do so without delay, ideally right now.

We hope to close the appeal in a week.

Finally, in anticipation of your generosity, thank you so much. I am very grateful.

PS Oleg and Natalia have decided to give their land and house (although it is almost definitely destroyed) in Siversk to another

needy family, so your gift will be twice as valuable.