A journalist from the BBC visited Dawlish today (Thursday 23 June) to interview and film refugees who have fled the conflict in Ukraine.

The refugees gathered on Dawlish Lawn at 4pm to raise awareness of the hardships faced by Ukrainian civilians and of captured soldiers who may face execution in Russia.

The total number of Ukrainian soldiers who were captured from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol is around 2,500, according to Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia said it was holding 6,489 Ukrainian prisoners of war on 7 June.

Ukrainian refugees with British supporters on Dawlish Lawn (Nub News, Will Goddard)

Among the refugees present was Lida Kuzomko, 35, a beautician from Bila Tserkva (near Kyiv), who is staying with a host family in Teignmouth with her two children. 

She said, through tears: "We want for people not to forget about this situation ... to support our soldiers because when we pray they feel a lot of support and they become stronger with our prayers. 

"We really appreciate British people, because we feel so much support and love."

Lida also spoke about the guilt many refugees feel as a result of being safe and having enough to eat and drink.

"I want the war [to stop], and I don't want people to die. [There is also] a humanitarian problem. People don't have meals, don't have water, don't have anything to survive.

"That's why every time I have a meal or drink something I think about the people that die every day."

More than 90 families had been matched with households in Teignbridge (ie. Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot etc.) as of 4 May.

The BBC interview with Mrs Kuzomko may be available to watch in tomorrow morning's breakfast bulletins, according to the journalist.

SEE ALSO: New English classes for Ukrainian refugees begin in Dawlish