An event has been held for Ukrainian families living in North Staffordshire to help them feel less isolated.

The event, which Ukrainians and their UK host families were invited to attend, was held at Alton Towers last Friday (20th January).

All five of North Staffordshire's MPs were in attendance, with Moorlands MP Karen Bradley behind organising the event.

Also attending was deputy lieutenant for Staffordshire Prakash Samani and Ukrainian MP Olga Stefanishyna.

Ms Stefanishyna lost her husband in March as a result of the conflict in her home country and her children are currently displaced and living with a family in the UK.

She travels between the UK and Ukraine, and acts as an advocate by telling people about the issues facing people back home.

Karen Bradley and Olga Stefanishyna (Richard Price).

She told the LDRS: "I use each opportunity to talk to people around the world and tell them about Ukraine, because it's very important.

"I think if the whole world was as engaged as the UK we would've won the war already.

"I truly believe the UK politicians and people – who are the most important – very much support us.

"I came to greet Ukrainians at this event, and of course raise the Ukrainian issue in front of British people – to thank them for their support, but also to tell them about the problems we have.

"I think countries – except Britain – don't help us enough and Ukraine really needs counter-attack means to kick Russia out of our territory.

"I know the UK made a very important political step to provide Ukraine with modern Challenger tanks, but we need more – and they're sitting in Germany which is holding the decision unfortunately.

"I'm also grateful to the ordinary people of the UK who are hosting Ukrainian people – it's very important, and each person who does something for Ukraine is very important.

"Those people who sacrifice a part of their home and a part of their personal space have an input into our victory because they give Ukrainians the possibility of a normal life while our military forces are defeating Russia."

MPs at North Staffordshire Ukrainian families event (Richard Price).

She said the event provided a welcome opportunity for Ukrainians to meet other Ukrainians, and speak their native language with others.

She said: "It's very important to provide a space for Ukrainians to communicate [in their native language].

"My kids are also here [in the UK] and I know how important it is for them to talk to fellow Ukrainians."

Moorlands MP Karen Bradley is chair of the British group on the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The worldwide organisation – which Ukraine and Russia are also members of – passed a resolution last year condemning the war.

Ms Bradley said being a part of the organisation has also given her the opportunity to meet regularly with her Ukrainian counterparts and discuss issues affecting displaced Ukrainians living with families in the UK.

She said: "When they first arrived it was about getting a visa, making sure they were here, making sure funding was in the right place. Now it's longer-term things."

She said she was concerned many Ukrainians may be feeling lonely, and wanted to give them the opportunity to meet with other Ukrainians to help them feel less isolated.

The event at Alton Towers was paid for by sponsors and other supporters, meaning no public money was spent on hosting it.

SMDC councillors at North Staffordshire Ukrainian families event (Richard Price).

Ms Bradley had paise for Ms Stefanishyna too, and said her story puts into perspective the impact the war has on people's lives in Ukraine.

She said: "Olga's a very active member of parliament, working very hard in the Ukrainian parliament to represent her constituents.

"Her husband was doing humanitarian work in March last year and was killed by the Russians, so she's widowed, she has young children.

"She has benefitted from the Homes For Ukraine scheme herself, because her children are living in a refugee house in the UK now.

"She's travelling between the UK and Ukraine constantly, to be with her family and also do her job as an MP.

"It really does put things into perspective."

She said the UK has a leading role in supporting Ukraine, adding that political leaders across the political spectrum are supportive of this objective.

She commented: "The more we hear from people like Olga, and the reality of what's going on – every day her constituents are being killed, every day we allow this to continue.

"We've got to be strong, we've got to recognise we're all affected – our energy prices, the cost of living –  all of that is all effected by war in Europe.

"There's only one way to resolve it and that is to support Ukraine and defeat Russia so that we can have people free to live their lives without oppression."

Speaking about the event, she said: "It was a germ of an idea that's turned into a fantastic, amazing afternoon.

"It's been great to do the first of these, let's hope it's not the last."

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