“This week,” Kimber continues, “I will be visiting Ukrainian club [in London] to see which specific supplies they need, as things get donated all the time.

“At the moment I think they are OK with baby food and nappies as ten tons got delivered to Lviv today and are being distributed to towns by civilians.

“It’s very important to donate the right way — either send stuff direct to Polish counterparts so they can drive it across the border, or donate to the Ukrainian army. The army has a QR code that takes you directly to the website.” [See Ways to Help panel below.]

Latex skirt with a message for Putin

By complete coincidence, one of Zorenko’s many eye-catching latex designs is the F••k Off Skirt (pictured above and below). In my reply to Kimber, I remark that this design surely carries just the kind of message Ukrainians’ want to send right now.

Kimber’s response suggests that she agrees.

“‘Fuck Off Putin’ is actually the slogan for the Ukrainian navy right now, after they tried to defend Snake Island,” she replies. “They said ‘Russian ship: Go fuck yourself’ and didn’t surrender. There are countless stories that inspire our heroism at the moment.”

I also ask her if she can confirm that road signs in Ukraine are being replaced to confuse advancing ground forces.

The first example I had seen (pictured earlier in this text) is not real — it‘s a digitally altered image created by Ukrainian authorities to encourage local people to ‘correct’ signs. But signs definitely are being replaced.

“The road signs have been removed as Russian soldiers don’t know the terrain and signs like this are pretty much in every town,” says Kimber.

“Some soldiers are asking directions from villagers and to buy food. They have expired MREs [military rations] from 2015. When the Russian soldiers surrender we feed them and allow them to call their parents. Some haven’t eaten in three days!”

Spreading the word about atrocities

The fight to spread the word about war atrocities in Ukraine is vital at the moment.

“We have to battle through war not only on the ground, air and sea but also virtually, and to fight the misinformation Russia is spreading. In fact we created an IT army to check and report only fact-checked news, and take down fake websites and posts in circulation.

“There are constant lies and brainwashing that they are not attacking civilians and only bombing military targets. But in the last five days they shot at a nursery, orphanage, children’s hospital, universities and regular people.

“We have been able to hold back Russian forces so far by pure dogged stubbornness and support from around the world. It’s vital to keep the momentum going and keep at it aggressively. We have a long way to go to end this war.

“They are hoping to wear down our will. We are fighting for our freedom of choice and free speech, for our children not to live under the oppression of a deranged dictator.

“This is our home, our land that we worked hard for and will protect to the very end.”

Family doesn’t want to seek asylum

Kimber adds that a question she has been frequently asked of late is: will her family flee Ukraine to seek asylum in the UK or somewhere else?

“This honestly irks me,” she says. “Why should we flee? People worked hard to buy a home, build a happy life for their families. Why would we give that up? We will stand our ground and protect our life’s work.

“I understand that a big proportion of our population has been left destitute with only the clothes on their backs. Or they’re finding it hard to support and look after their families who are in constant fear and terror.

“I can’t blame them for fleeing,” she admits. “However, Ukrainians are not running away — there’s a massive difference.

“We’re relocating to a different place where we can be most effective in supporting our families, soldiers and country, and can do it in a calm, rational way without panic.

“I really hope that the UK and people worldwide keep spreading the message to stop this war and stop the misinformation.

“Our people are throwing themselves in front of military vehicles to stop them in their tracks. Men and women are stopping them with bare hands and no weapons, and telling them to turn back. It’s unimaginable — more like stuff you see in Hollywood films.

“We need action to end this nightmare! Just because it’s not on your doorstep doesn’t mean this won’t happen to you.

“The thing that’s keeping the terror from spreading at the moment — the thing that’s in the way for Putin — is Ukraine.

“Putin is a narcissistic dictator with no remorse or compassion, and he won’t stop just stop at our border. It would be naive and ignorant to believe that.”

Zorenko London
Dafydd Owen
Romanie Smith