A UKRAINIAN family who arrived in the Wee County are slowly settling in to life in their new home.

Elizaveta Shyshorina and her three children Oleksandr, 15, Kyrylo, 13, and Polina, eight, left their hometown of Zaporizhzhia in the days following the Russian invasion.

They arrived in Clackmannan on Wednesday, March 16 after travelling across Europe to live with Galyna Lee, Elizaveta’s mother in law, and her husband Robert.

Galyna told the Advertiser: “They have settled quite well, but, naturally, they are finding it strange being in an English-speaking country and living with grandparents.”

The family have been to Stirling to visit the bank and Post Office to organise themselves for life in Clacks.

But they have also been able to look around the shops, as well as taken themselves on plenty of dog walks around Clackmannan and other parts of the Wee County.

Robert said: “It’s a life-changing experience. People have been very, very kind.

“A lot of people have been arriving at the door, handing in clothes, toys and money to help the family out. That’s been a big bonus.

“The kids are starting to find their feet a little. They’re starting to go up the street to the swing park, whereas, initially, in the first week they were understandably a bit wary.”

For the future, the plans are for the children to attend school, to find a place to live and to become a part of the community that has welcomed them.

Donations have been flooding in for the family. A surplus of donations, which are not a suitable size for the children, has been packed away and awaits another family arriving who may need them.

Robert continued: “It’s amazing, especially for Galyna.

“She’s over the moon. She’s enjoying looking after her grandchildren.”

A fundraiser was set up for the family by Clair Coutts, a friend of Galyna.

The initial target - £500 – has been doubled, but the fundraiser is still open.

Visit tinyurl.com/37fvekyt to donate to the fundraiser.