A Ukrainian art student is desperate to return to her 'second home' in Glasgow after fleeing her war-torn country from Russian invasion.
Mary Lydon ran from her home in Kyiv, with only a rucksack of clothes after the city came under attack by Russians on February 24.
The 22-year-old left everything behind before embarking on a gruelling three-day journey to Krakow in Poland.
Mary was a student at the Glasgow School of Art in 2019 and lived in Ibrox for almost two years before the fees got too expensive and she had to return home.
Now, she is hoping the university can help her find a sponsor for her studies which will grant her a visa and allow her to return to Scotland, after losing her own home.
Mary told the Record: "I always had a dream of pursuing a really good art education and in 2019 I was granted a sponsorship for my first year at the Glasgow School of Art.
"I immediately fell in love with the city. I was really shy but quickly became part of Glasgow's creative family and those people are still my best friends.
"I adore those people so much. I felt super comfortable in Glasgow, it was a beautiful time."
Mary, who was working in hospitality for catering company Selective Personnel during her time in Scotland, desperately tried to find the £18,000 required to stay in Glasgow for her second year after Covid hit but eventually had to call it quits and go home to Ukraine.
She started fresh back home with her family and was loving life - until her world came crashing down when the Russians invaded last month.
Mary said: "When I returned home, Kyiv was amazing. I met my partner and I decided to commit a bit more time to being at home and being with my parents.
"It was the ideal life, but we always knew that the war might start.
"My partner wasn't going to leave the country when the times were hard, and I didn't want to separate from him."
On the morning of February 24, Mary woke up to the terrifying noise of air raid sirens going off.
She continued: "We were very stressed. We didn't feel we would be safe in our apartment on the ninth floor, so we started our journey to leave.
"At the train station - because my brother is underage and I was a girl - we managed to take the train to Poland, but we had to leave my dad and my man behind.
"That was the most horrific moment. Just to see them staying at the station as the train starts moving - and no one knows when I am going to see them again. I was just in tears."
Mary's dad and partner are now volunteering in the capital city to help those affected while her mum stayed behind to work in a hospital in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Mary has been doing everything to help from the distance - but has been forced to rebuild her life from scratch.
She revealed the Polish people have been very welcoming but she doesn't know where to turn to next.
The 22-year-old said she would love to return to her 'second home' Glasgow, where she feels safe with her friends and hope she can find a sponsor to finish her degree.
She said: "Glasgow is my second home. Ukraine is my first home and I wish I could live there for the majority of the rest of my life - but I really want to have a chance to be in Glasgow as well.
"I have a spiritual connection to Scotland. Ukrainians and Scottish people are very similar. We understand each other."
Mary is now encouraging Scottish institutions to open doors for young Ukrainians.
She said: "I get a general feeling from Scottish mentality that people want to help - but the government hasn't been quick to waive visas or provide settlement via scholarships for Ukrainians. We need help."
Mary has encouraged donations to humanitarian aid to help people who remain in Ukraine by clicking here.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe launched by Mary's friends to help her in Krakow has reached almost £2,000.
A spokesperson for the Glasgow School of Art said: “We are deeply concerned by the horrific events in Ukraine and our hearts go out to all those affected. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
“For some of our students the war is having a direct personal impact and we will do whatever we can to support them."
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson said: “We have every sympathy for Mary. In the midst of conflict it is morally unacceptable to place bureaucratic process in the way of those fleeing terror.
“Today’s Home Office announcement does not yet go far enough. The UK Government must follow the example of countries like the Republic of Ireland by waiving all visa requirements for any Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge in the UK.”
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