Reading's Ukrainian community "feel hollow" after Russian invasion
Mick Pollek - a senior member of the Reading Ukrainian community centre in Reading - says there's also a feeling of frustration and anger
Last updated 24th Feb 2022
A single bouquet of yellow roses - one of the colours of national flag of Ukraine - has been placed outside the community centre in Sidmouth Street.
Mick Pollek - a senior member of the centre - has told us what the mood is amongst the town’s Ukrainian community:
"They all feel hollow somebody said to me 'he feels like he felt the day after he buried his father' there's a hollowness there's an emptiness. I spoke to another member who said her brother in law their area has been bombed and that's in western Ukraine. There's an anger and frustrated anger because over here what can you do?"
50-60 families are associated with the centre and a school attracts children from as far afield as London, Southampton and Winchester.
Mick says Russia has threatened to target families if anyone attacks Russian troops and he expects they will do all they can to help refugee children in the coming weeks:
"They're petrified and they're asking over here a prominent question what can we do over here to facilitate refugees what the guys are saying is 'I want my family protected can we move our families out and we'll do what we have to do to protect Ukraine' "
Mick says Putin may "wish his country dead" but he believes it'll never die.