Preparations are under way to roll out the welcome mat for Ukrainian refugees seeking sanctuary in Galloway.
Gatehouse volunteers are leading the effort – with the aid of a Ukrainian man from Lochfoot.
Roman Lezczyszyn, whose family hail from near Lviv, learned of the Gatehouse initiative through the Galloway News.
He immediately vowed to help out – and is looking forward to meeting new arrivals from his homeland.
Roman said: “I would offer any help that I could. I’m more than happy to translate as often as I can.
“It would help me to brush up my Ukrainian.
“It would also be good to use the language again because I don’t have regular contact with Ukrainians.”
He added: “I could take them round the Polish shops in Dumfries which have similar produce.
“Ukrainian people really do appreciate the little things and are quite religious as well.”
Roman, 59, condemned the UK Government for subjecting refugees to nit-picking bureaucracy.
Last week refugees minister Lord Harrington admitted he was “not happy” and vowed to speed up the process.
Roman said: “The refugees have a huge problem in getting here.
“People are spending six or seven hours filling in forms – they are even being asked if they have a driving conviction.
“So far the UK has taken in only 7,200 – yet Poland has accepted over two million.
“I don’t think too many would want to come over here though.
“That’s because most don’t want to be too far away from home.
“The reason so many are going to Poland is because they feel they can get home easily – it’s just over the border.”
He added: “My mum and dad always had a wish to go back home but that was impossible for them.
“My father was sent to a labour camp to work for the Germans and my mother would secretly pass food through the wire to him.
“But they were classed as fighting against the Russians and would have been sent to prison if they returned.”
He added: “I drive a bus for Alzheimer Scotland and park at St Theresa’s Church in Dumfries which is decorated in blue and yellow.
“I sent the pictures over to my family near Lviv and they were very appreciative.”
Hilary Lee, who is co-ordinating preparations to bring the Ukrainian arrivals together in Gatehouse, was delighted to hear of Roman’s offer to help.
She said: “I think it’s brilliant. Roman could be a key person in helping the refugees with translation and meeting them. They are going to be so browbeaten.”
Former teacher Hilary, 66, said four families in Creetown, Carsluith and Gatehouse had expressed an interest in taking in refugees and some sponsor households are already well through the UK Home Office Ukraine family visa scheme process.
Meanwhile, the race is on to find a suitable space in the town for refugee families to meet up.
“We are looking at having a little playgroup so the children can play together.”
