AN ARTIST has described how her friends and family in Ukraine are too scared to eat or sleep as Russia continues to invade.

Iryna Latsanych, who lives in London Road, Worthing, said she wakes up in the middle of the night to check her phone to see if her friends and family are still alive.

The 43-year-old said she asks her friends to keep her updated, morning and night, to let her know they are safe.

The Argus: A photograph taken from Iryna's house in Kyiv yesterday A photograph taken from Iryna's house in Kyiv yesterday

 

She explained that the basement of her family’s home in Kyiv is being used as a bomb shelter by 29 people, as Russian forces to continue pressing on multiple fronts.

Speaking to the Argus, Iryna said: “People are hiding in our basement because they are bombing civilians. It is happening in most of the cities in Ukraine.“I’m staying in touch with my friends all the time.

"I wake up in the night and I check to see if my friends are online, just so I know if they are alive."

The Argus: Iryna's friend Lena is sheltering in a corridor in her apartment building in Kyiv and her dog RichieIryna's friend Lena is sheltering in a corridor in her apartment building in Kyiv and her dog Richie

"One of my best friends lives in a multi-storey apartment building, and she is having to live in the corridor with her dog and cat because animals are not allowed in bomb shelters.

“Her daughter and her granddaughter have been living in a bathroom for more than a week now, hiding from bombs.

“It’s a real catastrophe there. People aren’t eating or sleeping, and not because they don’t have the means to, it’s just because they are so stressed.”

The Argus: Iryna with her children, left to right: Igor Latsanych, Ann Mary Latsanych and Chris Latsanych. Iryna with her children, left to right: Igor Latsanych, Ann Mary Latsanych and Chris Latsanych.

Mother-of-three Iryna was born in Lviv in Western Ukraine and moved to Kyiv in 2001.

Her parents live in the mountains in the west of the country, and Iryna said they are safe now, but “we don’t know for how long”.

She said: “I never said so many ‘I love yous’ than I have in the last week. Now is the right time to tell people that I love them.”

Iryna, who has lived in Worthing since 2016, is collecting supplies of medical equipment to ship to Ukraine.

The supplies are reportedly in “low supply”, according to a doctor, and friend of Iryna, living in Lviv.

Iryna said: “I start crying when Brits start calling me to offer their support. I never could have imagined that so many people would have offered to help.”

If you are able to help, email Iryna on saveirma@gmail.com for more information.