A UKRAINIAN refugee has been welcomed to Dorset in style after she was gifted with a complimentary flight from the Dorset Gliding Club on just her second day here.

Inna Peklun, aged 39, arrived in the UK just last week after fleeing her home in Eastern Ukraine. Her tumultuous journey included spending three days on a coach from Chernivtsi to London.

Through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Inna was matched with a suitable family and is now settling in her new home in the Dorchester area with her sponsors Allan and Gill Reese.

Mrs Reese, who lives in the countryside and who’s home was not suitable for refugees with children, said: “As soon as I saw what was happening in Ukraine, I thought, my God, I have to help someone, I couldn’t believe what was happening.

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“Inna asked if she could come live with us, she sounded very nice. We then talked on Zoom and saw each other face to face, it was very emotional, we both cried to each other. It took weeks to get her here, and we didn’t know where she was whilst she was making her way over, we felt so helpless at this end.”

Once Inna arrived in the UK, she was able to get free transport to get her to her final destination.

Mrs Reese added: “She’s brilliant that she done all that, getting here. Meeting in person was very emotional, Inna was so choked with emotion she couldn’t find the English words. She’s lovely and is learning English from as hard as she can from us.

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“The very next day we were going to the Dorset Gliding Club at Bovington as our family had got my husband, Allan, an experience to fly in a glider. I asked if Inna wanted to see that, so we all went along. The glider club members came over and introduced themselves to Inna and asked if she’d like a ride in a glider too. It was the kindest thing and such a lovely positive amongst all the negative.

“We’ve never done anything like this before, we’re taking each day as it comes and hope to find some other Ukrainians in the area for Inna to meet. She’s a very brave person for coming here, living with strangers and trusting that we are good people.”