A Ukrainian refugee living in Sheffield has desperately appealed for a family to sponsor her niece who is trapped in the war-torn country. 

Nataliia Holovina, a school teacher who left for the UK last July, said she wanted her niece, Vlada Yakubiv, to be protected.

She said: “It will be good for her parents because their daughter will be safe. This is the most important thing.”

The 18-year old’s parents – a primary school teacher and a factory worker – have both lost their jobs, and current rules in Ukraine mean adult males cannot leave the country. 

Ms Holovina said: “It is very difficult for them to leave without any income after they lost their jobs.

“My niece told me –  I want to help my parents.”

Ms Holovina’s niece, Vlada Yakubiv, who is a trained hairdresser and has completed eyebrow beauty courses, would like to find work to support herself and her family while in the UK.

Ms Yakubiv originally lived in the city of Mykolaiv in the south of Ukraine, but had to flee with her family to live in a small house with Ms Holovina’s daughter and grandson due to Russian bombing. 

Ms Holovina said life in the country was very hard at the moment, and that she still suffers with anxiety at the sound of planes even when in the UK.  

She said: “I decided to come here because every day this brings military planes over the roof of my house. It was so terrible. When I arrived here, I was afraid of the sounds of planes for four months.

“My youngest daughter is 26 and lives in Kiev. Two months ago a Russian rocket was intercepted near the house and all the windows were broken.”

The 47-year old said she is feeling better now thanks to being sponsored. 

She chose her sponsor family because of her background working with children, and feels they’ve helped her greatly.

Ms Holovina said: “This is an amazing family. They always support me and help me in everything.”

The UK government statistics show that, as of 28 February 2023, there have been 883 visa applications made under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme in Sheffield. 

Ms Holovina said her niece is worried that she won’t be able to find a sponsor, and that she is concerned that those who were willing to have a Ukrainian guest have already done so. 

Anyone who would like to help or view Ms Yakubiv’s original post should visit the Facebook page here.