A month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lewis Edwards is planning to return to his home city of Ripon with Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska.

Teachers Mr Edwards and Ms Bogdanovska fled Kyiv, where they had been working at a private school, on February 25.

Joining the mass migration of refugees who sought safety in neighbouring NATO countries, they arrived in Slovakia.

There, they and eight friends created a shelter to help Ukrainian women, children and men over 60 find sanctuary in other parts of Europe.

This morning Mr Edwards told the Stray Ferret:

“We are awaiting the outcome of Tanya’s application to travel with me to the UK and once all is in place, our plan is to head straight to Ripon.

“That will give us time to find our feet again, while being with family, friends and meeting some of people who have been so generous in supporting our work with refugees.”

Former soldier Mike Heelan is also returning home to Harrogate after travelling to Slovakia to help. Mr Edwards said:

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Mike Heelan, who came over from Harrogate when he read about what we have been doing in Slovakia.

“His help has been invaluable and we will be wishing him well when he heads off back to the UK later today.”

Former soldier Mike Heelan is returning to Harrogate.

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Fundraising for Ukraine to continue

Their efforts have been supported by a gofundme page launched by Mr Edwards’ family. More than £19,000 has been raised.

Though they are leaving Slovakia, the fundraising will continue.

Mr Edwards’ mother, Ali, said:

“We are excited that he will be returning to the UK with Tanya and look forward to their safe arrival in Ripon.

“Though they leaving Slovakia, we are committed to continuing the fundraising for the people of Ukraine, who face a desperate situation for the foreseeable future. The monies raised will go to other groups who will be providing humanitarian assistance.”

The flag of Ukraine flies above Ripon Town Hall

Cllr Parkin, said:

“We already have the flag of Ukraine flying on the town hall and Lewis and Tanya will be welcomed as heroes, when they arrive in the city.”

Funds raised in Ripon have been used to source ambulances, buy and transport vital medical supplies and food and provide shelter.

This work will continue, through the increased involvement of the Slovakian government, acting in liaison with humanitarian aid agencies and on-the-ground volunteer groups.

A former soldier from Harrogate will fly to Slovakia today to help Ukrainian refugees 

Mike Heelan, who served for 24 years in the British Army whilst based in Harrogate, will be supporting Ripon man Lewis Edwards and his team to run a shelter for people fleeing the war-torn country.

Mr Heelan was moved after reading the Stray Ferret’s stories about Mr Edwards, 33, and his 30-year-old Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska. They were both teachers at a school in Kyiv but fled the Ukraine capital on February 25 to set up a shelter in Slovakia.

Since then, the couple have helped refugees with housing, transport, food, medical supplies and other essentials. They have even sourced 10 armoured ambulances to protect health workers from gunfire.

Mr Heelan and Mr Edwards, who did not previously know each other, managed to connect via WhatsApp and then hastily arrange the trip at short notice.

Mr Heelan said he will go there for two weeks but may stay longer.

“I really felt I should be doing something. I’ll do whatever is needed.

“I want to help people who are suffering because of the war.”

Lewis Edwards and his partner Tanya fled Ukraine. Picture: Tanya Bogdanovoska

Read more:

• Ripon man helping Ukraine says ambulances are being shot by Russians
• Ripon family’s plea: ‘Please help the people of Ukraine’

• Former Ripon student fleeing Ukraine today to set up refugee shelter

Being human

Up to 180,000 refugees have crossed the border into Slovakia since Russia began its invasion two weeks ago.

The UN Refugee Agency has warned the total number of refugees from Ukraine may reach four million in the coming days.

Wives have been separated from husbands who are staying in the country to fight. Children have left everything they have ever known behind.

Mr Heelan said:

“They are scared and confused.

“I have got the time. It’s about being human.”

Mike Heelan

Mr Heelan said he’s grown frustrated with the UK government’s attempts to send aid to Ukraine, which he said has been stymied by red tape and bureaucracy.

But he pointed to Lewis Edwards as an inspirational example to follow.

“At a time when we need a robust, go-getting government we have a bunch of feeble-heads.

“Lewis is a young lad, a teacher, who’s managed to get armoured ambulances. He’s done it out of nothing. It’s quite amazing.”

Eyes open

At the moment, the border with Slovakia is not a part of Ukraine targeted by the Russian army.

Mr Heelan, 64, said he is not interested in fighting but is not afraid to face danger.

The stoic family man said his wife and two children support his journey.

He said he’ll be feeling some trepidation during the flight to Slovakia tomorrow, but added:

“That’s good for you. I’ll keep my eyes open.”

To donate to the Lewis Edwards Ukrainian shelter fundraiser, visit this gofundme page. 

Former Ripon Grammar School student Lewis Edwards has told the Stray Ferret that ambulances in Ukraine are being attacked by Russian forces.

This is among the latest in a growing list of breaches of the Geneva Convention committed by the invading troops, as the situation for civilians trapped in towns and cities under siege becomes more horrific and desperate by the hour.

The targeting of the emergency vehicles follows a weekend in which fleeing refugees came under attack during a supposed ceasefire in Mariupol.

Lewis Edwards and his partner Tanya Bogdanovska pictured at Christmas in Kyiv

Speaking from Slovakia yesterday afternoon, Mr Edwards said:

“I got a phone call from an organisation in Ukraine saying they wanted me to try and source armoured ambulances, because the Russians have started shooting at the normal ambulances used to take injured people hospital.

“Through contacts, I’ve managed to find two already and I’ve been phoning around asking if there is anybody who might know where we can get some more.

“The whole situation is chaotic and insane, as the aid agencies that we are working alongside seem to be relying on us – 10 refugees – to provide logistical support, because we appear to be able to get things done that they can’t.”

Oksana Pron (left) and Kristina Simalova are part of the team sending items such as medical supplies from Slovakia to Ukraine.

Mr Edwards, 33, and his 30-year-old Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska — both teachers who had been working at a private school in Kyiv — fled the Ukraine capital on February 25.

After crossing the border into Slovakia a week ago, they teamed up with eight other volunteers to help people seeking sanctuary in countries including the UK.

As well as helping refugees — mostly women and children who are arriving in Slovakia each day — they are continuing to do all that they can for Ukraine people, including friends and family, who have been unable to escape.

In addition to sourcing ambulances, they have supplied a generator for an area without electricity and have assembled a shipment of essential medical supplies that will be setting off to Ukraine tomorrow.

As the Russian bombardment of Ukraine continues, former Ripon Grammar School student Lewis Edwards and his partner Tanya Bogdanovska are safe in Slovakia, but constantly thinking about family and friends facing the horror of war.

Lewis, whose family live in Ripon, has been providing regular updates, along with the photographs seen here.

He told the Stray Ferret, this morning:

“Tanya spent the night talking with friends online, while they hid in stairwells during non-stop rocket attacks.

“She has been telling them that they will survive and asking them not to lose hope, but what do you say when someone tells you they don’t want to die like this? They are young, they are scared and they don’t know what to do.”

As rockets and mortar fire rains down on Kyiv, men, women and children are sheltering at the city’s Metro stations

With the worsening situation, the urgency of Ukrain’s plea for help increases by the minute and for Tanya it is a personal plea, because she comes from Zaporhisia, which has been under heavy attack for days.

The Shelter in Slovakia

While she and Lewis can only add their voices to the world-wide call for the military assistance that Ukrain needs, they and a growing group of friends are preparing to provide practical, on the ground support for fleeing refugees through a shelter in Slovakia.

This will provide food, rest, the opportunity to bathe and obtain essential items such as sanitary products for women and nappies. The shelter will also have private areas where the refugees can make calls to loved ones back in Ukraine.

Lewis, Tanya and friends who will help in setting up the shelter, have now crossed the border into Slovakia

The plans for creating the shelter are taking shape and in Ripon, a Go Fund Me page set up on Sunday by Lewis’s family is steadily receiving donations from the local community.

Lewis’s mother, Ali, said:

“We would like to thank all those who have made donations and ask those who haven’t so far, if they will help support the people of Ukraine in what ever way they can.”

While people have been sheltering under ground in Metro stations, Russian rockets have destroyed residential blocks

The shelter will give respite for traumatised Ukrainian refugees before they make onward journeys.

Final destinations are currently unknown to the fleeing women, children and men over 60, who left their homeland with hastily-packed suitcases, back packs and carrier bags.

The majority had to bid farewell to loved ones, including husbands, partners, brothers and uncles aged between 18 and 60, who stayed behind to fight for their country.

This is happening city by city and street by street, as Ukrainian soldiers, along with civilians armed with Molotov cocktails and guns provided by allies, continue their desperate struggle against Russia’s military might.

Women and children who are fleeing Ukraine, are facing an uncertain future

Lewis, said:

“The current situation is absolutely dire, but we hope that we can provide some light at the end of the tunnel.

“Our friends, a group made up of Ukrainians and foreigners ,are working together now to try and do what we can.”

The collective, including teachers like Lewis and Tanya, who met at Point Camp (a children’s summer camp in Ukraine) come from a number of European countries.