Ukraine war: The din of laughing children seems a million miles from the horrors of their homeland: Family of six in take in 11 refugees
Ireland has dropped all visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees and Robert and Valerya Kasperek, who have lived in Ireland for 14 years, are thought to have taken in the most of any family in the country.
Saturday 19 March 2022 06:38, UK
As Ireland continues to welcome thousands of Ukrainian refugees since dropping all visa requirements, one family in County Meath has taken in no fewer than 11 people fleeing the war.
It's thought to be the most of any family in the country.
Pole Robert Kasperek and his Belarusian wife Valerya have lived in Ireland for 14 years.
Valerya has many relatives in Ukraine, and after the Russian invasion, she knew she had to act swiftly to bring them to safety.
Within a matter of days, 14 of her extended family had left Ukraine, and travelled west into Poland.
From there, they flew into Dublin Airport, where Sky News met Robert.
A few days later we visited the Kaspereks at their remodelled bungalow outside Bettystown in Country Meath.
Every nook and cranny of the spacious home was now filled with donated food and toys for the newly-arrived children.
"They're still feeling in shock, of course," said Valerya.
"Because I have girls there, their husbands are still in Ukraine. Every single day they're on video call. Sometimes the internet connection is bad and getting worse, the girls and their emotions, every day they're crying."
'Everything is destroyed because of one guy'
She's referring to 36-year-old Yevheniia Sannikova, who is playing with her three young daughters, Maiia, who's about to turn two, seven-year-old Alissia, and 10-year-old Sofiia.
Her husband, a doctor, remains behind in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
"They've left everything," Robert said. "All their life. Hard-working, houses, families, everything is destroyed because of one guy... Putin."
Robert and Valerya live in the house with their three boys, Sean (14), Miron (9) and Kai (4), as well as Valerya's mother Nina.
Asked if they're coping with the influx, Robert laughs. "All the girls, have had a great calming effect on the boys, it's great," he said.
Of the original 14 refugees, three - a mother and her two children - have returned to Poland for an employment opportunity.
But the current number of 11 Ukrainian refugees is believed to be the most of any household in Ireland, which waived visa requirements immediately after the Russian invasion.
A source at the Irish Red Cross had heard anecdotally of a family in County Leitrim taking in nine refugees.
Worries about Ukraine tempered by gratitude
"We had to do it," Valerya said. "We just had to make sure they're safe."
Oleksandr Chornyi, known as "Sasha", was allowed to leave Ukraine as, in his work as an international coach driver, he took scores of people out of the war-torn country.
He's joined in the Kasperek home by his wife Iryna, and their daughter Ewa and son Dominik.
For the new residents, worries about those they left behind is tempered by gratitude for the new home.
"In Ireland, I feel very good, very safe," Oleksandr told Sky News. "Thank you for all the support, the help. Very great people in Ireland."
His wife Iryna adds: "Very kind people, very kind."
Valerya worries about her brother
Valerya still has loved ones she wants to help. She breaks down in tears as she tells us of her brother, an officer in the Belarusian military.
She desperately wants to get him to Ireland, as the family is worried that Belarusian troops may be ordered into Ukraine.
"Can you imagine? He would be shooting at Ukrainians, his cousin, his brother," Valerya said.
Her brother has said he would go to military jail rather than participate in the Russian invasion.
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She says he wants to come to Ireland, but can't due to visa regulations.
The Kaspereks know that having 11 houseguests isn't sustainable indefinitely, and are now on the look-out for suitable long-term accommodation in the locality.
For now, the local St Vincent de Paul organisation is helping with bedding, fuel and food supplies, and the family have hailed the contribution from the Bettystown community.
It's a family home packed to the rafters. But it's a warm and safe haven for reluctant arrivals.
The din of laughing and roaring children seems a million miles from the horrors of their shattered homeland.