A UKRAINIAN family who fled the devastating war in their home country and ended up stuck on a cruise ship on the Clyde for months are now rebuilding their life in Greenock.
Stephan Kyryk, his wife Nataliya and 12-year-old son Hlieb, from Kiev, are starting afresh in Inverclyde following the Russian invasion.
They spent months on the requisitioned cruise ship MS Ambition when it was docked in Glasgow, living alongside nearly 1,800 other Ukrainians forced to escape from their homeland.
Their lives were torn apart when Vladimir Putin sent his tanks invading over the border in February 2022.
Desperate Nataliya and son Hlieb, like thousands of others, escaped to the safety of the Polish border, where they were later reunited with Stephan.
Now thousands of miles away from home, they say they have found sanctuary here.
They feel at home here and say they have been helped to settle in by Belville Community Gardens in the east end of Greenock.
Stephan says that the welcome the family have had in Inverclyde has provided some solace from the carnage being carried out back home.
He said: "There is no safe place left in Ukraine now, Russia just keep on going. They hit building after building with no military targets.
"We feel so sad we had to leave, there is nothing left in Ukraine now. I stayed until I lost my job in sales and then I had to go as well. It is so hard to leave everything behind.
"But if you had to leave your home you couldn't find yourself in a better country, anywhere in the world, than Scotland and living here in Greenock.
"It is a beautiful country and the Scottish people are so friendly, the friendliest in the world."
When Nataliya and son Hlieb fled to Poland, Stephan waited behind to keep working, but later joined them.
The family arrived in Scotland in November, where they found themselves aboard the Ambition cruise liner in Glasgow, which was turned into accommodation for refugees by the Scottish Government.
Stephan said:"It was fine, the accommodation was good and the food. It was good that we were with all Ukrainian families, we were together and understood what was going on.
"That was one of the hardest things when we left, we were away from people we knew."
In March the family found themselves in Greenock, where they were allocated a flat in the town's Sir Michael Street.
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The 41-year-old dad-of-one said: "We are so proud to be here and we are happy to be rebuilding our life here in Greenock.
"Everyone is so helpful and kind.
"We have been made so welcome.
"We are very happy here in Greenock and rebuilding our life day by day.
"Our son goes to Notre Dame and loves school.
"I even have job interviews, we are happy to be here."
Stephan and Nataliya are also enjoying the outdoors, as they did in at Belville Community Garden.
They spend time working with the team there, including manager Sally Clough, John McLennan, Ryan Stewart, Julie Anson and Sue Harris.
The couple go along to a gardening drop in and volunteer to help in the grounds.
Stephan said: "There are so many people helping us and we found out about Belville through Your Voice.
"We love coming here to the gardens and can't thank them enough for all their help, it is beautiful here. At our flat in Sir Michael Street we don't have a garden, but here we do."
Natalyia added: "We really love it here at Belville."
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As the couple look to the future they admit they are unsure if they will ever be able to go back home.
Stephan said: "There is nothing left in Ukraine, our jobs have gone because everything has gone. I don't know if we can ever go home.
"It is terrifying and sad what is happening to our country back home, to have to leave it behind. We watch at the Russians just hit more and more buildings there is no reason to target.
"They have knocked down a beautiful city Uman that is sacred to Jewish people, they destroy everything.
"We don't know if we can ever go home again, if it will ever be safe."
"We are just so grateful to be safe here."
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*If anyone is interested in activities at Belville Garden or would like to volunteer, call the project on 01475 726034 or email donna@belvillecommunitygardens.org.uk
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