Terrified couple's fears for son and grandson in war-torn Ukraine

Native Ukranian Larisa Botcherby, from Witney, has spoken of her anxiety for the safety of her 36 year-old son Vadym’s family as the Russian army continues its assault with heavy bombardment. Her husband has started an appeal for army equipment to send to the frontline.

Vadym Bey, his wife Alona and their seven-year-old son Dameer are in the southern coastal town of Chornomorsk near Odessa on the Black Sea.

There have been warnings that Russian forces are preparing to shell the historic port city.

Mr Bey has worked for the army in the now-Russian controlled Dombas region.

Now he is leaving his job in IT and completing the documentation to rejoin the Ukrainian army. He hopes to be on the frontline in about a week.

Body armour donated to Tony Botcherby for stepson in Ukraine

Mrs Botcherby said: “I am very, very anxious, angry and upset. At this moment my grandson is underground with my friend for the second time today. I am taking tablets every day, I am so depressed.”

Dameer spends the day with his other grandmother. He is rushed to an improvised bomb shelter under his school every time there’s a Russian attack.

Meanwhile when the sirens sound, Mr and Mrs Bey, who work in the Ukrainian Army Military Office in Chornomorsk, must stay at their posts and keep working.

Stepfather Tony Botcherby is urgently appealing to Army Surplus Stores or anyone who has access to military protective clothing to donate helmets and body armour for the civilians at the Army Office in preparation for further Russian advancement.

He is willing to collect any donations, many of which have messages of support scrawled on them, and has a van leaving for Ukraine on Saturday. 

Mr Botcherby who works at Mac’s Garage in Witney, said: “The Russians are moving along the south coast to his city.

“All the men have been conscripted, which is millions, and in Kyiv 25,000 volunteers have picked up Kalashnikovs and are going on to the frontline. 

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“Last night, luckily, I managed to get Vadym a combat helmet and body armour through a customer at the garage who is ex-RAF. But these things are really difficult to get hold of.

"I’m hoping that, because we live in an area with so many bases, there will be people who have been in Afghanistan and still have equipment.

“We want as many helmets, boots, sleeping bags and as much body armour as possible.”

The van, one of thousands of vehicles on aid missions to Ukraine, will travel directly to Chornomyosk. 

There the city beach, which is one of the best in Ukraine, has been laid with landmines to defend the city.

Mrs Botcherby added: “There is not enough food in the supermarket. Today there was milk and butter, tomorrow there may be pasta. Every day different food arrives from the factories but now it’s getting difficult as all the roads from the big cities are mined.

“The biggest problem is there is not enough ammunition. The Russians are shelling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"I spoke to Vadym today and he was very happy as the Ukrainian army hit a Russian warship and a helicopter last night. They are doing a great job but at a huge loss.

"There’s going to be no surrender, they will fight to the death. I am so proud of my country.”

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Mr Botcherby said: “My wife is terrified. She is seeing her country being ripped apart. I can’t imagine what she is thinking but she is worried to death. 

“People are being blown apart. I have been to Ukraine many times and they are the friendliest people. You just would not wish anything like this on them. They are going through devastation.”

Donations can be left at Mac’s Garage, Burford Road, Witney.