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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kirsty McCormack

GMB viewers in awe of 'brave' Ukrainian student, 19, during heartbreaking interview

Good Morning Britain viewers were full of praise for a 19-year-old Ukrainian student whilst tuning into Tuesday's show.

Susanna Reid and her co-host Adil Ray went live to western Ukraine at around 6:30am to speak to Valentina Butenko.

The British Ukrainian student has been caught up in Russia's invasion of Ukraine after travelling there to visit her father.

Valentina has spent the last few days trying to help as many locals as she can, including driving a friend to the Moldovan border so that they could escape.

Susanna and Adil were taken aback by Valentina's bravery as Adil asked her: "Are you prepared to take the risk [of staying]?" before adding: "You could remove yourself from the situation and nobody would blame you for it."

Susanna Reid and Adil Ray interviewed a 19-year-old student in Ukraine on Tuesday's GMB (ITV)

Valentina replied: "Risk is a relative thing. The real risk to me is that my country disappears.

"The real risk to me is that there's a genocide against my people that won't be stopped and that the Ukrainian culture will be completely terminated."

She admitted: "Of course, I'm terrified. As I said before there's no place in Ukraine that's safe right now because there's a monster who's willing bomb civilian buildings for no reason.

GMB viewers were full of praise for 'brave young lady' Valentina Butenko (ITV)

"But to me, that personal risk, that doesn't mean anything compared to the other risks at hand.

"I think every single person in their life there are some things that define our lives. There are some things that make our lives worth living and give us reason to be here.

"For us right now it is our brotherhood and sisterhood, that is our unity, that is our love for freedom and democracy," Valentina continued.

"I'm willing to pay any price to protect that. My safety is secondary to essentially protecting the things that make my life worth living."

GMB viewers were in awe of Valentina and took to Twitter to comment.

One person wrote: "What a brave, passionate and articulate young woman Valentina is. #gmb #Ukraine."

Another tweeted: "Valentina, such a remarkable, inspirational and brave young lady. #GMB."

A third person posted: "Brave girl Valentina and her dad...like all Ukrainians #GMB."

And a fourth viewer added: "Mind blowing interview with 19 year old Ukranian Valentina on #gmb. Truly courageous, inspirational young lady. The spirit of this nation is something else. We have to stop this war."

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV Hub.

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