Scot Stuart McKenzie’s loyalty to his mother-in-law has forced him to stay in the Ukraine and face down whatever comes if Russian troops attack the country.
The businessman had packed his bags to flee his adopted homeland and head for Poland on Sunday morning.
But his wife Lena, 49, announced that he mother Galina, in her 70s, was not fit for an arduous road trip, meaning the family stayed put.
Healthcare firm boss Stuart, 51, said: “At the end of the day my decision was made for me. We will see this out as a family, come what may.
”I’ve been here for more than 20 years and I feel very much in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“They will not give up their country without a fight but I don’t think it will come to that.
“Our bags were packed but fate played another hand and we will just have to play this out from our own home.”
Stuart, from Helensburgh, had feared getting caught up in a mass exodus and the chaos that can follow, with potentially millions of people heading for the borders.
He said: “We don’t know what will happen but it is probably a long shot that we will end up in such a crisis, with bank machines not working and fuel running out, covid and whatever else an invasion might bring.
“At the end of the day the family will be together and I won’t be leaving any of my workers behind, so I feel more settled that a firm decision has been made, even if it is not the original one.”
Stuart, Lena and their two youngest children were planning to drive to Poland, where part of his business is based.
Stuart added: “I’m 90 per cent sure that Kyiv won’t get bombed - that’s the worst case scenario. But there are games that Putin could play.
“It is quite possible he could set up a supposed referendum and say he was ‘invited’ by the people to bring troops into the Ukraine. We can only watch the news and wait and see and hope all turns out as well as could be expected.
And UK Armed Forces minister has James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack “very, very quickly”, with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border.
It is believed many of the 6000 Brits living in Ukraine have already fled the country while some have stayed, stocking up on food and fuel in case war does break out.
The British Foreign Office appealed on Saturday for all British passport holders to evacuate immediately amid fears of war with Russia.
