A woman in Liverpool cried as she spoke of her son preparing to fight against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Inna Ruzheva, 46, moved from western Ukraine to the "beautiful city" of Liverpool five years ago and is learning English at Knowsley College.
Standing on the steps of the Bombed Out Church during a solidarity vigil on Tuesday, March 1, Inna told the ECHO about the last time she visited Ukraine in July 2021.
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Inna said: "It was summer, it was warm, it was sunny. I was hugging my son.
"I saw people who were happy, and now the happiness of my people has been broken, destroyed, ruined."
When her son visited Liverpool in 2019, Inna asked him if he wanted to move here, but he said no, preferring it as a holiday destination.
Now the 24-year-old, who graduated university as a computer science teacher, is preparing to fight the advancing Russian forces.
Inna said she can't reveal much about his involvement in the conflict.
Despite the mobile phone footage and satellite images of Russian troops, which keep Inna and other Ukrainians abroad informed, limited information has been shared about movements on the Ukrainian side as ordinary people join the fight on every front.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called on civilians to take up arms, imposing martial law and banning Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country when Russia launched a full-scale invasion on February 24.
Civilians attempt to block roads to Russian military convoys while others shelter in basements from the artillery fire hitting buildings above.
Inna said: "I feel very distraught. I feel the deepest pain. My country is ruined.
"In spite of all the misunderstandings between [Ukrainians] before the war, now we've gathered, we've become very close, from the youngest to the elderly.
"We have a professional army, but we need help and support because Putin's army is strong, but we can fight back. We can resist."
Her son calls once a day, giving Inna comfort knowing he's okay.
Inna told the ECHO: "He's very calm, focused. There is no time, no opportunity, to panic or worry."
She added: "I sincerely pray for his health, for the victory of Ukraine and for peace and tranquility."
