‘We are very proud of him’ – Ukrainian family separated by war reunited for heartfelt Christmas message live on Sky News

A Ukrainian family divided by the war have wished each other a heartfelt Merry Christmas, live on Sky News.

Maryna Poltavska and her children, who arrived in the UK as refugees in 2022, waved to husband and father Sergiy Poltavskyy as they chatted to him on video.

They will be spending this Christmas apart as they continue to be separated by the years-long conflict.

“We are very proud of him,” Maryna told presenter Wilfred Frost in the Sky News studio, praising the work he does building UK-Ukrainian relations as a senior interpreter. “It’s amazing,” she said.

Sergiy said people in Kyiv have smiles on their faces and are really looking forward to Christmas and being with their families.

“There are drones flying over and sometimes there are power cuts, so it can be hard sometimes,” Sergiy said of keeping up with his wife and sons in the UK.

“But we still manage to find time and stay connected.”

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It comes as Ukraine goes into a tough winter amid Russian attacks on its cities and steady gains by Moscow’s forces in the east.

Maryna, who now works as a resettlement officer, came to the UK with her sons Robert and Lev in 2022 as they fled the war in their country.

They live in Kent, where their neighbours have become a second family, Maryna said.

“From day one, local government, Canterbury City Council, Kent County Council, neighbours, our hosts… they welcomed us with open arms and supported us in every possible way to help us settle in and adapt to the new life, to the new country.”

They are able to keep up with Sergiy over social media and video calls, eating meals together. Sergiy is even able to receive reports from his sons’ schools – and knows if they do their homework, he quipped.

“Every time I meet my colleagues, my mates here, I always tell them how proud I am of my sons,” he said.