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'I want peace for the people of Ukraine'

Matt Knight/BBC A head and shoulders picture of Vlada Zabielina, a Ukrainian refugee now living in Southend. She has long blonde hair and is wearing glasses.Matt Knight/BBC
Vlada Zabielina is one of more than 3,000 Ukrainians who now call Essex home

Ukrainians living in Essex are hoping there can be peace in their homeland but not at all costs.

More than 3,000 refugees from the country have come to Essex to stay with hosts under the government's Homes for Ukraine scheme.

US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to end the war during his election campaign, but Ukrainians here say they won't accept losing territory.

Vlada Zabielina, who fled Mariupol and now lives in Southend, said: "I do hope his promises to end the war will fulfil themselves, we want some peace."

'We left when the food ran out'

Ms Zabielina is one of 59 Ukrainians who have settled in Southend, according to the city council.

The 21-year-old moved with family when their home was bombed.

"We had to go through a hard period of time," she said.

"Our accommodation was destroyed, we couldn't charge our phones so it was impossible to connect with the outside world, so we decided to leave when we got through our last bits of food."

President-elect Trump said during a presidential debate that he "would have the war settled" before taking office.

While Ms Zabielina is hopeful of peace, she wants the people of places like her hometown of Mariupol, which is now under Russian control, to be consulted on any deal.

She added: "It's a very difficult situation in Ukraine when it comes to the occupied territories and, as a person from there, I hope the conflict can result in the best way for the people."

Matt Knight/BBC A head and shoulders picture of Anna Sahan standing in front of a white wall. She has long blonde hair and is smiling.Matt Knight/BBC
Anna Sahan worries about her brother and father who are still in Ukraine

Fellow Ukrainian Anna Sahan, 31, lives with her sister in Leigh-on-Sea after arriving from Poltava, a city halfway between Kyiv and Kharkiv.

"There is one scenario where the USA will help Ukraine and we will win this war, and another scenario where the USA decided to give Ukraine to Russia," she said.

"I would like Ukraine to be like it was before with all our territory because if it doesn't happen what will be next, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, who will be next, it will be Europe for sure."

Matt Knight/BBC A head and shoulders picture of Ilda Sinani in front of a world map. She is wearing a black jumper and has blonde hair tied back from her face.Matt Knight/BBC
Ilda Sinani's charity Welcome to the UK supports people in Southend who are fleeing international conflicts

Ms Zabielina and Ms Sahan are among many Ukrainians being helped by the charity, Welcome to the UK, which was started by Ilda Sinani.

It provides English lessons and support for people from 72 different countries around the world, who have made Southend their home.

Ms Sinani, 39, came to the city from Albania back in 2012 and has since become a British citizen.

She says it is "essential" that those who come from across the world learn to speak English to help them get jobs and integrate.

She added: "At the end of the day, these people are part of our society, part of where we live, and as a charity we do our best to support them and ensure that they live here with dignity."

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