Ukrainian mum leads Ukraine aid effort in Southsea
A Ukrainian mum living in Southsea has been working tirelessly to support her home country — even sacrificing her living room to store donations.
Maryna Kuzmenko, who moved to Portsmouth in 2020, knew she had to do something when she watched Russia invade Ukraine just over two weeks ago.
The 37-year-old told us how she felt “so powerless” and feared for the safety of her family in Ukraine.
“After two days of sitting and watching the war through a screen and scrolling, I decided to do something,” she said.
Maryna got in touch with the Ukrainian embassy, who suggested she bring essential donations to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre. From there they are taken directly to Ukraine.
The mum-of-two said she was overwhelmed by the support of Portsmouth residents, after essential items — from toiletries to baby clothes — flooded in.
She said: “I thought I would have one bag of something maybe. Then after one day half my [living] room was full of all this stuff.
“It was a pile higher than me.”
Since then, Maryna has started working with other groups, including the Polish community and Jacob’s Wells Care Centre.
Maryna said that collecting donations has been her way of fighting for her country and supporting her brother, who is now in the territorial defence unit.
Her parents and grandmother have also remained in Ukraine, in Maryna’s home city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region.
She said: “They have very strong ties with their land, with their history, with their personal networks.”
Maryna is now urging people to donate medical supplies and personal protective gear — just contributing something small could “save someone’s life”.
If you have any of these items to donate, get in contact with Maryna via Facebook or alternatively contribute through her Amazon Wishlist.
