A Ukrainian family of nine who escaped to Britain from their war-torn home is now facing eviction.
Maxim, 36, and wife Olga Hyryk fled Kiev last month with their children and elderly parents.
They were accommodated in a two bedroom bungalow in Fareham, Hants, next door to their hosts.
Maxim and Olga moved in with their mothers Olena, 60, Hanna, 69, twins Maksym and David, 7, Amiran and Tamerlane, 2, and daughter Nikol, 1 on May 11, on May 11.
But three weeks ago, Hampshire County Council told the family that Maxim and his family had to move.
On June 15, they received a legal letter from their landlord’s attorney telling them to leave before July 15.
Their internet access was immediately cut off and now the family is forced to raise money to live elsewhere.
Maxim told The Sun: “We came here with nothing, just the clothes we were wearing and as much stuff as we could cram into a backpack.
Maxim and Olga moved in with their mothers Olena, 60, Hanna, 69, twins Maksym and David, 7, Amiran and Tamerlane, 2, and daughter Nikol, 1 on May 11.
Maxim, 36, and wife Olga Hyryk fled Kiev last month with children and elderly parents
Hanna, 69, belonged to the family and now also has to look for a new home after the eviction notice
“We love this country and want to make it our home.
“We fled when the Russians started bombing Kiev, we got in the car and drove with everything we could fit in it.
“The kids didn’t know what was happening, but it was very scary, it took us nine days to get to Poland because we had to stop driving during the curfew.”
“Everyone has been so incredibly friendly from the start, we feel so welcome here.
“England is full of good people and everyone we have met or who has helped us since we have been here has been very nice.
“After the trauma of driving through a war zone with our children and elderly parents, we just want some normalcy after everything that’s happened.”
On June 15, they received a legal letter from their landlord’s attorney telling them to go
The large family traveled by car from Kiev to Poland on March 11 and stayed there for two months
The family’s desperation has led them to now crowdfunding to try and get rent together
The large family traveled by car from Kiev to Poland on March 11.
They stayed there for two months before the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme secured them a place to live.
Under the Homes for Ukraine program, hosts will provide accommodation for at least six months and notify guests two months in advance.
Maxim added: ‘We don’t know why we have to go, no one has given us a reason.
“It was terrible to hear that we had to leave, we have very young children, one of whom has autism and we also have elderly parents.
“After all the upheavals we’ve been through, we just wanted a little bit of normalcy and stability.
Olena, 60, with one of the kids in happier times before the eviction was triggered
Four of the youngsters in the family shine despite their ordeal after the Russian invasion
“In the beginning, the landlord was very helpful and helped us set up some local services, while other friends helped with schools and the doctor.
“It went really well and they were so helpful to Olga and me. We planned to settle down here and make it our home.’
A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: ‘The national guidelines related to the Homes for Ukraine scheme outline sponsors’ desire to be able to provide shelter for six months or more, to give individuals and families time to settle in. and integrate into living in the UK.
“Most arrangements seem to work well, but occasionally hosts or guests want to terminate the sponsorship deal.
‘In those situations, they are asked to contact the municipality as soon as possible, so that support can be offered with rematching or looking for independent accommodation.
“The County Council and Fareham Borough Council, the local housing authority, are aware of this matter and are working together to ensure there is support.”
The landlord declined to comment when approached by The Sun.