AS Christmas and the season of giving and goodwill is with us, a Ukraine relief organiser from Holsworthy is appealing once again for people’s generosity to help those whose lives have been wrecked by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the former Soviet republic.

A joint online fundraiser has been created by Launceston Refugee Support Group with help from the Holsworthy Collections for Ukraine team to help those in need this winter time.

Shortly after the war started last February, people from all over the Post’s readership area responded with amazing and immediate kindness to local appeals for goods, transport and money to relieve the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Now, as plummeting winter temperatures add to the challenges of those left homeless by the war, Paul Stoate, of Holsworthy, is appealing for donations of new, warm clothing to help Ukrainian refugees.

Paul, who worked in Ukraine for several years before the war, launched the Holsworthy Collections for Ukraine in February, and was overwhelmed at the time by the community’s response in donating items such as medical supplies, dried goods, clothes, sleeping bags, toiletries, baby milk, nappies, and pet food.

He said: “When you see the devastation of Putin’s war that has destroyed buildings, you realise these are people’s homes. Peaceful, normal people like us are having their lives wrecked by an evil despot who cares little for human life, be it Russian or Ukrainian. The lies and deceit perpetrated by him and his henchmen would be almost laughable were it not for the death and suffering he is causing.

“We worry about inflation, heating our homes, and rightly so. But these people’s homes have been flattened and many are living in fear of the next bomb or missile. There are shortages of the most basic essentials and those that are available are astronomical in price. With no work possible, people have little or no money.”

Paul says that the Ukrainian people are refusing to be bullied by Putin and stand between a cruel, suffocating dictatorship and freedom.

“Our Ukrainian friends stand for freedom and liberty in the face of tremendous odds. The temperature will soon drop to minus 15 degrees or even minus 25, and we have to help all we can - a woolly hat or gloves, warm socks, sleeping bags and so on, can make such a difference. The response from the Devon and Cornwall community back in the spring was amazing – in such a short space of time, we were able to send several van-loads of goods to Ukraine’s various borders. We can do it again!

“We are working hard to gather what we can and send on vans making regular trips. Any donations of the above items – new, please – and in-date medicines will be gratefully received. Thank you so much.”

If anyone is able to help with this humanitarian appeal, contact Paul Stoate from Holsworthy Collections for Ukraine on 07989396692, Bill Glen of Launceston Refugee Support Group on 07976592196 or 01566 784603; or visit the Launceston Refugee Support Group’s gofundme page at gofund.me/198ab11b