‘My parents in Kyiv are hiding in underground shelters because shells are falling every single hour’
A UKRAINIAN woman who calls the North East home has opened up about the horror of war as her family in her homeland shelter from constant Russian shelling.
Jane Kazakova, who has lived in Newcastle for the last five years, is urging people in the UK to do whatever they can to support Ukraine as the Russian invasion enters its 10th day.
Her parents, who live in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, have been forced to shelter underground as Russian forces bombard the city.
An emotional Jane said: “My parents are in Kyiv and they are hiding in underground shelters because shells are falling every single hour. It’s really scary.
“I’ve been losing sleep. Every single day is so hard. My son is six and he is worried about his grandparents. My parents were here visiting recently and left at the end of December. We were going to ask them to come back but they don’t want to run away. They want to stay in their country.
“It’s really brave but I’m so scared of what might happen next.”
Russian forces have been shelling Kyiv along with other cities across the country for days after the invasion began on February 24. Reuters estimate that more than 9,000 people have died in the conflict.
Jane continued: “My country looks like a nightmare. It’s like hell in all the cities.
“Most people think it’s not their war, it’s not their business – but it could be tomorrow. Putin won’t stop on just Ukraine. I hope he will have the same fate as Hitler had.”
Jane, who lives with her husband and son, pleaded with the UK to back a no-fly zone.
She said: “The main thing is to close the airspace over Ukraine. That’s the only thing we need.
“We are strong and we will fight to the very end.”