'Our city is bombed every day and every night'

Tanya Tyiko was so horrified by the devastation of the ongoing war in Ukraine on a recent visit home, she knew she had to do something to help.

Now based in the UK, Ms Tyiko is appealing to people to donate vital medical equipment to help soldiers and civilians in the war in her homeland, especially in Kharkiv where she grew up.

A retired school teacher, she now lives in Bromsgrove, and said crutches, walking frames, foot fracture boots, emergency blankets and dressings for wounds were among essential items that are needed.

The donations will be sent to a hospital near to her where one of her former students, now a medical intern, is helping with emergency operations.

"Our city is bombed every day and every night without stopping," Ms Tyiko said.

"And new people are being wounded every day. It is a desperate need for any medical equipment that could be useful for to help them."

The 65-year-old, who is being supported by Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees, said her appeal was "from my heart" to support soldiers fighting on the frontline.

Medical intern Danya Suhokon, 21, who is helping receive any items, said injured soldiers and civilians would be extremely grateful for donations.

"It is very difficult to describe in words what is happening now in my beloved city without tears," he said.

"Air raid sirens more than 10 hours a day, sometimes you wake up to a siren, go to work to a siren, work and rest to a siren, sleep to a siren... and it is terrible.

"All my colleagues understand perfectly well that we work in a place where a missile or a drone can fly, but we get up every morning without a drop of doubt and go save people's lives."

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