Lavenham village to host wedding for Ukrainian refugee

Inna Sudareva moved to Lavenham, Suffolk, in June 2022 with her daughter Lesya

A Ukrainian woman who moved to Suffolk to escape her war-torn country has found love in her host village.

Inna Sudareva, 51, moved to Lavenham with her daughter Lesya in June 2022, under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

In September of the same year, she met her husband-to-be Roger at a bus stop in the village, and he proposed one year later.

Ms Sudareva said "I am a very lucky woman", with the pair due to be married on 23 January.

Inna Sudareva met her husband-to-be at a bus stop in Lavenham

"He is very kind. He is very gentle. He has a very nice sense of humour," she said of Roger, adding that he took the time to describe things to her in very simple words.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which caused at least 12 million people to flee their homes.

Ms Sudareva, whose son is still fighting in the war, said that her family were happy for the couple, and she hoped to take Roger to Ukraine once the war was over.

Nicky McAllister, who hosted Ms Sudareva and Lesya, said: "I'm very, very pleased for her because she's fitted into the village so well."

Inna Sudareva - and her daughter Lesya - have been living with host Nicky McAllister

Speaking on being a host, Mrs McAllister said: "It's been a huge learning curve for both my husband and for me, to understand how other people live and their different lives coming from Eastern Europe.

"Inna and Lesya have been such delightful guests... they have fitted in like extended family."

Together, the ladies have planned a wedding that encompasses both British and Ukrainian tradition.

"We've got some Ukrainian readings, some English readings, the Lord's Prayer in the English and Ukrainian," said Mrs McAllister. "We've got some Ukrainian music for them to come into and the tradition of holding crowns over their heads when they're being blessed."

After the wedding, Ms Sudareva plans to move in with her new husband but says she will still live very close to Nicky.