Family of ten Ukrainian refugees reunited after Brit businessman donates house
A FAMILY of ten Ukrainian refugees have reunited in Britain after a businessman donated his spare house next door.
Mick Swinhoe, 52, bought the second property as a “project house” — but when war broke out he realised it could be a haven for refugees and advertised it on social media.
Now four generations of the Starkov family — aged between ten and 90 — have moved in, refugees from bombarded Kharkiv. They even managed to bring their two dogs with them.
Mr Swinhoe, an executive with an industrial automation company, said he wanted the house to be used for “something more useful”. He said: “It’s a better use for it really. I can do what I want to do later when things get better.”
The Starkovs came to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme, helped by relative Roman Starkov, 38, of Cambridge, who is a British citizen and has lived in the UK for 20 years.
The software developer said his 90-year-old grandmother Ludmila Starkova did not have a valid passport and had wanted to stay in Ukraine, which he said had created a “challenge”.
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Eight of the family members got on a flight from Albania to Luton Airport.
But Mr Starkov’s sister Valeriia Starkova, 37, and dad Mykola Starkov, 59, travelled by car, taking 20 days to reach Britain with Yorkshire terrier Mikki and mini Maltese Florie, both two.
Ms Starkova said it was “such a relief” to arrive at the house. She said: “I feel that they’re saving our lives, otherwise I don’t know where we would stay.
“I’m so grateful for everyone who supports us and can give us some place to live.”
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Roman added: “Yes they are safe — that’s amazing. They’ve still lost everything. There’s still hope that maybe they can go back and maybe what they left behind will still be there. Maybe not. There’s uncertainty about their future.”
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Mr Swinhoe, of Caldecote, Cambs, said his daughters, aged 11 and 15, are “really delighted” there are three children among the Ukrainian family of ten.
He said they will be able to help integrate them into school.
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