A UKRAINIAN dad has thanked a Middlesbrough councillor for making a booking at his Airbnb apartment in a conflict-hit area of the country.

Cllr Antony High has rented accommodation with Airbnb host Andrey in the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine near the Black Sea.

People are renting apartments that they don’t intend to stay in as a way of providing cash to Ukrainians during the Russian invasion.

This morning, reports were surfacing that Russia was bombarding Mykolaiv with artillery fire and the city’s mayor, Oleksandr Senkevych, confirmed that residential areas were targeted.

In a Facebook post, Cllr High, who is the leader of the Middlesbrough Independent Group, said: “I had seen someone else do this yesterday – so thought I would look to help too.

“It’s a brilliant way to get finances directly to those that desperately need them in Ukraine.

“I searched and found BnBs in the towns around the worst-hit parts of the country and booked some rooms for a number of nights.

“It took minutes to book somewhere and will be a help to many, they’re even sharing it amongst other people in need too.”

The Northern Echo: More than a million people have fled Ukraine, but millions of others are stuck amid the warzone. Picture: PAMore than a million people have fled Ukraine, but millions of others are stuck amid the warzone. Picture: PA

Read more: County Durham man delivering medical supplies to Ukraine hospital

Cllr High even heard back from the Ukrainian host after his booking.

Andrey said: “I am very grateful to you and appreciate your GENEROUS action! I am in the city with my family (wife and son 7 years old), all safe.

“We’ll buy non-perishable goods and help others. I’ll be very happy if I can thank you someday. Thank you very much.

“We really hope the war ends soon, but as long as there is no assumption to do so…I hope your family will never recognise the difficulty of the war.

“God keeps your family safe and good luck will please you more often! I’m very surprised I never have thought I would get that kind of help.

“I will try to get the money as early as possible, I will definitely help my neighbours (with children and in a serious material situation), I will try to send photos.”

Teessider Hannah Hawkins has set up a Facebook group called ‘Ukraine Support Collection – Tees Valley’ to share donations points and information about how you can help.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 and has since been met with heavy fighting from the country’s armed forces and civilians – it is yet to topple the capital Kyiv.

Over the weekend, France accused Britain of a “lack of humanity” over its response to Ukrainian refugees, as French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said that 150 refugees hoping to cross the border at Calais were told to go away and secure a visa in UK consulates in Brussels or Paris.

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