A FAMILY who left Ennis in recent years have opened their hearts, and their home, close to the Polish / Ukraine border to those fleeing the Russian invasion.

Marcin Piotrowski and his wife Marina Sestasvili-Piotrowska who lived in Ennis for more than a decade with their children have been playing a key role in providing support to Ukrainian people escaping the conflict.

As well as giving Ukrainians refuge in their guest house Chutor Gorajec in Poland, just a few kilmotres from the border, they have also been co-ordinating the gathering and distribution of vital supplies including food, tents, medicines and blankets for those still waiting to cross the border.

Marcin and other volunteers regularly cross the border into Ukraine to bring donations to those in need, while Marina looks after those who have come to their guest house seeking shelter. A warehouse has been set up to house the donations which have been flooding in from all parts of Poland and across Europe.

In a recent social media post Marcin can be seen calling on the people of the Banner and the rest of Ireland to show their support, waving a Ukrainian flag and pointing out it’s similarities to Clare’s county colours.

Speaking to us from their home just 10km from the border with Ukraine Marina tells us they were moved to do something to help as soon as the invasion began.

“We are really close to Ukraine, it’s like our home as well. The day we found out the war had started, we prepared our house to accept the refugees.

“Then we found out there were more problems, we were waiting for people but they were not coming because they were waiting at the border. They were waiting for two, or three days, mothers and kids mainly and older people and the sick. They are waiting there and they have nothing, no roof, no warm meal, no blankets. It’s cold and raining, it’s awful.”

They began collecting donations to help those stuck on the border and for those who make it across, the family have offered a place to stay and support.

“We have people coming to our home all the time, women with kids, and also those who are coming to collect their relatives from the border.

“Anyone who needs a stay to rest or sleep can stay. Most of them have a place to go next, they have family or friends in Poland or somewhere else in Europe. But there are lots of people who just have no idea what to do. So I help them to find a place to stay and transportation for them.”

She says that the family have been “overwhelmed” with the level of support they have received but locally and from further afield.

“As soon as I posted on Facebook that we were going to house refugees and asked for some help, the ladies of the village nearby came and gave us food. Marcin’s friends are in the warehouse and bringing supplies across the border, a huge amount of people are helping us.

“We have had support from all over Europe, people are writing to us in every language on earth, they want to help or to send money, they offer a room to stay. There is so much love all over and help.

“This is what Polish people say, and it is what people from all over Europe say, the Ukrainians are fighting for all of Europe right now. They are fighting for us all and the least we can do is help them to stay safe and send them some supplies.”

Like many others, Marina has been stunned by recent events.

“Would you believe that there would be a war in Europe now? We had just started to recover after the pandemic life. I remember the Thursday the invasion started, it was Fat Thursday here in Poland and we were going to eat sweets all day, and then we found out about the war. You could feel spring in the air, and now it’s a war.”

Marina has heard “devastating stories” for those who have arrived at her home, and she believes that the people of Russia need to hear the truth about what is happening. She urges anyone with a connection to Russia, or who speaks the language to help spread the message.

“There is a large amount of false information in Russia. Russian people do not believe there is a war, they think that Putin is doing a liberating work. Information is so important, and Russian people have to believe it is going on, it’s war.

“I’ve heard lots of war stories, I can see these women they are just devastated. There was one older lady in her seventies who came with her two grandsons, her daughter and her son-in-law had stayed to fight. She came to Poland knowing no-one, she didn’t know where to go, she just went.

“All of the people from Ukraine are saying one thing, we love our country. We had a good life in this country. We don’t need liberation, no-one wants Russia here. We have a beautiful country and have seen life in Ukraine get better and better with more opportunities, now they are destroying our country and killing our people. They are asking, for what purpose. It’s just devastating, everyone is sure that Putin, he’s just mad.”

She concludes by saying they are “extremely, extremely grateful to the Irish people for their help and support.”

Donations can be made to the support Ukraine efforts in Poland at https://folkowisko.gorajec.info/wsparcie-dla-ukrainy , the page is in Polish but can be translated on google.