Keighley's Ukrainian refugees mark second anniversary of invasion

A vigil was held at St Andrew's Church in Keighley

Ukrainians who moved to Keighley to escape the war have marked the second anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Since arriving in the town, about 100 women and children refugees have been supported by Keighley's Ukrainian Cultural and Community Centre.

On Friday, many joined a vigil to mark two years since the start of the war.

Iryna Cyhanko, who helped organise support for the refugees in Keighley, said: "I don't like to call them displaced persons. They are family."

Joining the vigil, organised by the Association of Ukrainians Keighley branch and held at St Andrew's Church, was Viktoriia Sydoruk, from Odessa.

She was one of those who fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 and she came alone to West Yorkshire.

Viktoriia Sydoruk said her parents urged her to flee Ukraine for a chance of happiness

Ms Sydoruk said her parents had encouraged her to leave for the UK to have a chance at happiness.

"My mama looked at me and she couldn't say any words. She just looked and I understood what she meant," she said.

"They are older people, and they had a life before. They had a family, children, and a life.

"But I am young and I didn't have the same life that they had before."

Two years on, Ms Sydoruk's memories of the start of the invasion remain stark.

She said when the air raid sirens sounded over Odessa, she and her family retreated to her basement, then fled to a refugee centre with just her cat and some bottles of water.

She left the country shortly afterwards, but her brother, Dennis, stayed to fight - only to be badly injured when he was hit by a Russian drone.

"When people have injuries like my brother has had, they usually don't survive," Ms Sydoruk said.

"I am really proud. He is like a hero for us."

Ms Cyhanko set up weekly meetings for Ukrainians as refugees started arriving in Keighley

As refugees began arriving in Keighley following the invasion, Ms Cyhanko, a second generation Ukrainian in West Yorkshire, became a lynchpin.

She began weekly gatherings at the Ukrainian Cultural and Community Centre to help and support those who had left their war-torn homeland behind.

Ms Cyhanko said: "What we've done for them was lacking when our parents came over. So, we wanted this transitional help for these people."

She added that she understood all too clearly what it must be like for those who had left Ukraine since the Russian invasion and come to Keighley.

"You settle here in body, but your head is still with family or loved ones in Ukraine," she said.