A CHESHIRE doctor from Ukraine has vowed to help children facing the horrors of war in her homeland.
Tetyana Petrenko, a GP who lives in Knutsford and works at Weaverham Surgery, is shocked by horrific pictures of families coming under fire.
The 40-year-old mum has lived in the UK for 18 years but is worried about her relatives whose homes are near towns being bombed by Russian missiles.
Tetyana and her mum Tamara, 67, who is visiting her from Ukraine, joined thousands at protests in Manchester and London at the weekend.
“I am from Kotelva, which is around 30km from Okhtyrka where my family live,” said Tetyana.
“I heard that 60 are dead there. I am very worried. It is so harrowing.”
Tetyana brother Roman, 44, has to stay in the war-torn country as he is an essential worker in an electricity station.
Her sister-in-law Lyuda, 42, and nephew Vadim, 21, fear it is too dangerous to try and escape as bridges are being blown up and shots are being fired.
More than 600,000 people have already fled.
Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine have been under bombardment for seven days since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched an invasion last Thursday.
“I have been speaking to a lady who is looking after families in shelters,” said Tetyana.
“Children have been in cold, wet vegetable cellars for four days. It is basically a hole in the ground.
“As a doctor, I am worried about them getting infections. They have no heating. I don’t know how they are managing for food.”
Heartbroken Tetyana wants to do something practical to help families.
“Imagine being a mum looking after your children,” she said.
“You don’t know what is going to happen to your child in the next 24 hours. You feel helpless.”
Tetyana was horrified to hear about a girl who died in shelling.
She plans to run 34km, the distance families have to walk to avoid the gunfire.
“It happened because there are thousands of them surrounded by Russian troops and there is no way to escape,” said Tetyana.
“I want to help children through this difficult time and make a little bit of difference.
“Children may need treatment, an operation or counselling to get over this trauma.
“The money will go to children who have suffered as a result of the war.”
Tatyana is raising funds for Ukraine Charity and plans to walk from Knutsford to the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Club in March later this month.
To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/tetyana
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