Yana Korvatska’s family live in Lviv, close to Ukraine’s border with Poland, and, so far, remain relatively unscathed by the terrors of the Russian invasion.

The sixth largest city in Ukraine and once Polish territory, Lviv is home to Yana’s father, brother and grandparents.

As her brother Volodymyr is the only one with internet access, Yana relies on him for family news. Yana, Kisharon’s Management Accountant, says: “I video call him but he’s not allowed to use his phone camera at night because of black out rules. We do talk, but I need to see his face to know he’s OK.”

It should have been a happy time for the family. Volodymyr’s eldest son Oleh had his wedding planned for last weekend, but it was cancelled because of the conflict. The wedding had already been rearranged several times because of Covid and Yana and her family had flight tickets booked.

“My husband and I decided not to go in case we got stuck in Ukraine and we both have work commitments, but my son Maxim was having nothing of it and he packed and went to the airport. His luggage was checked in but then the flight got cancelled.”

Yana has lived in the UK for 15 years and studied at London Metropolitan University where she met friends she still keeps in touch with, who are in Kharkiv, which has been devastated by the invasion. “Communicating with them is impossible,” she says.

Another friend is in Chernihiv, one of the worst-hit areas. Yana said: “Last time we spoke she told me how Russian tanks had rolled in and demolished all the houses. It’s in ruins.”

At Kisharon, our hopes and prayers are for a speedy resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, and especially in our thoughts are our Ukrainian staff with family and friends whose lives are in danger.