Ukrainians fear for families back home

Ukrainian nationals living in Westmeath have spoken of their distress at Russia’s invasion of their homeland, while locally communities across the county have rallied to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the war-torn central European state.

Max Zinchenko, assistant farm manager at Gigginstown House Estate, is a native of Ukraine and like his compatriots here, he is desperate for news of what is happening in his homeland.

Max has lived in Ireland for 20 years; his wife also lives here and their five children attend school in Delvin and at Loreto College, Mullingar. His extended family live in a town around 200km from Crimea.

When we spoke to Max yesterday afternoon, he had last received communication from Ukraine just two hours earlier, and at that time his family were safe and well.

What most troubles him is getting up to date news from friends and family in Ukraine. “At that time, yes [everybody was ok], now I don’t know,” said Max. “Every time, I don’t know what’s happened, we just wait for text messages and news.”

He says the Russian forces were close to his home town around midday yesterday, Monday, but they turned and moved in a different direction. He did not know where they were going, but there is a nuclear power plant near the town, and he speculated that the Russian army might have been going there.

The uncertainty is the worst, and he said it is too unsafe for his family to evacuate. The only way he can help for now is to send them money, even though the shelves are empty in the shops and most petrol stations have run out of fuel.

“I only want Russia to go out of Ukraine, and never touch it again. It’s very difficult to say about the future, because Putin is a crazy man and you never know what in his mind.”

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