“WE will win this” says a former Warwick man now living in Ukraine’s second biggest city as Russian forces close in.
In a video posted on Facebook, Kharkiv resident Jacques Quigley pleaded with UK residents ‘to step up’ to support Ukrainians.
Jacques, who lives with his Ukrainian-born wife Katyia and five-year-old son Nikolai, said he was committed to protecting his home city of seven years, which has been the target of heavy missile fire in recent days.
He said: “We’re fighting, we’re getting through it. I am not leaving my home. I’ll do what it takes to protect my city, my home and my son.
“He’s a brave boy and said ‘we work, we fight, we win’ and that is what we’ll do – we will win this.”
Jacques is appealing for donations to support the Ukrainian’s struggle following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of his adopted country.
Two of his family’s businesses are taking cash donations – Steve Quigley Butchers in Cubbington Road, Leamington, and Posh Paws by Zoe in Smith Street, Warwick.
And he has also invited those with loved ones in Ukraine to leave flowers outside the shops in the hope it may bring some comfort in these dark days for the country.
Jacques also hit out at Boris Johnson, accusing the Prime Minister of ‘hiding’, calling him a ‘disgrace’ and urging him to resign.
Mr Johnson has said it is time to “squeeze Russia from the global economy, piece by piece,” as he announced a wide-ranging sanctions package against Moscow, including freezing the assets of all major Russian banks and banning hi-tech exports, after Putin launched a large-scale invasion to take control of the independent state.
Many MPs, including some in his own party, felt the sanctions were too weak and did not not go far enough.
Former PM Theresa May said “every possible economic sanction” should be levied on Russia so it “absolutely feels the cold wind of isolation”.
Ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt said economic sanctions would not go far enough and that a “fundamental review of our military capability” was needed.
Some Conservative MPs called for the UK to increase military aid to Ukraine, including the former cabinet minister David Davis, who said the UK should consider providing air support to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Putin ordered the launch of the invasion on February 24 after months of military build-up along the Ukrainian border.
The invasion has prompted condemnation across the world.
Attacks on major cities have resulted in hundreds of deaths and seen thousands of families forced to flee their homes for the safety of neighbouring countries.
Donations can also be made via Paypal here.
