A Ukrainian refugee has told councilors that a part of her life “dies in agony” every day as she watches the horrors unfold in her home country.
Anastaysia Manina fled Ukraine with her five-year-old daughter after the Russian invasion to seek safety with her mother who lives in Hull.
On Thursday he received a standing ovation as he delivered an emotional speech at a Hull City Council meeting.
She told councillors: “My heart breaks every day.”
Ms. Manina and her daughter left Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, on February 24 after waking up to the sounds of shelling as Russia launched an offensive against their country.
He arrived in the UK on March 2, where he was reunited with his Ukrainian-born mother, who has lived in Hull for the past three years.
Speaking at the meeting, the 38-year-old said she had recently moved into her new apartment in Kharkiv before being forced to leave her “whole life” behind.
“Every minute a part of me dies in agony seeing and hearing the devastation my homeland is going through,” he told council members.
“Now I ask you a favor, please look at me.
“I pretend to be a young, beautiful and intelligent country in the center of Europe.
“Ukrainians are extremely brave. They are well educated, they fight furiously for their independence and they will keep fighting as long as it takes.”
He said his country, its armed forces and its people were “furiously protecting our European countries and their peaceful life.”
Afterwards, Ms. Manina burst into tears and received a standing ovation from councilors who praised her courage for speaking out.
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The meeting was told that the city had already come together to help those affected by the war, including several truckloads of aid being sent to Poland.
Endorsing a motion urging the council to support Ukrainian residents, Councilor Mike Ross said: “There have been numerous speakers in the chamber over the years. I can’t think of one that has had the power of that today.”
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