Help Sofiyka

Hi there....Sofiyka Naumenko is 11 and comes from Korosten in Ukraine. She was involved with a collision with a train and lost both legs. She lives with her mother Oxana who has not long ago had a baby. They are estranged from Sofiyka's father. The family were fundraising for Sofiyka's care but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine it looks like the banks have collapsed and this money has been lost. My brother Terence Voysey lives in Northern Poland. For many years Terence and his wife Heather were involved with Ukrainian charities, bringing children affected by Chernobyl radiation over to the UK for recuperative stays. They fostered a young Ukrainina girl, Iryna who is now 21. Back to Sofiyka..

My brother Terence met Sofiyka, Oxana and the baby after a gruelling journey by coach all the way from Ukraine to Krakow in Poland. They were kept waiting at the broder between Poland and Ukraine for 31 hours. As I write this (on 27th February 2022), my brother Terence is driving the three of them (along with some other Ukrainians) to Stuttgart - roughly a ten hour drive. Here, Sofiyka is going to have prosthetic legs fitted. It is hoped, though uncertain, whether/how much the German health system will fund Sofiyka's care and rehabilitation. Her mother Oxana is then likely to settle in Germany.

We can all play a small part in reducing the awful struggles facing those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I am setting a target of £5000 initially. I have no way of knowing whether that is adequate or or not.

I will update this page as and when I have more details about Sofiyka's and Oxana's situation.

Many thanks