I have copied what is below, in italics across from my Facebook page. I know the family concerned, both the Krystyna and her husband, who posted it, and Krystyna's parents.
While I knew that her father had come here as a young child, either during or immediately after the war, and about his early life here, living many years in a Polish 'camp', I knew nothing more.
I think the post is so hugely educational regarding the Polish, Ukranian and Russian 'relationship' (sorry, that's not quite the right word but the best I could thing of right now) that I decided to paste it across onto here.
The only change I have made to it was to remove Krystyna's surname.
Please do read the first half of it at least ...
" I feel incredibly angry about what's going on in Ukraine.
Most of you know that Krystyna's family are of Polish descent. In fact, her family were from Lviv/Lwow which is (now) in Eastern Ukraine.
In September 1939, Germany invaded from the West but Soviet forces invaded from the East, the Russians taking control of the city from the 22nd September 1939.
The Soviet Government invaded on the pretence of being "liberators".
A puppet government was installed and those who presented a risk to Sovietization were arrested. These included university professors, Army veterans, smallholders, and civil servants.
Krystyna's Grandfather was a civil servant, so her Grandparents and their young children were transported to Siberia in cattle trucks. 1.2 million people suffered the same fate. By July 1941, when they were released to "help" fight the Germans, almost half had died.
This is all "after" the initial conflict, like we are witnessing via social media. This is also just part of the 6 year long story of hardship. Followed by PTSD and survivors’ guilt.
Thousands were never allowed to return to their homeland, those that did disappeared on the orders of the soviets.
Now, I see history repeating itself.
When you see pictures of the Polish people doing so much to help their neighbours, maybe you can understand why. Their grandparents have, "Been there, Done that and Got the T-shirt"
We see pictures of Russian soldiers with lists; wonder about the fate of those Ukrainians. The same fate is being afforded to those brave enough to protest in Russia
I hope that the British government sees fit to welcome the refugees, as the EU have committed to.
I hope that somehow Putin and his crones are stopped and never are allowed to treat another nation or its people like this.
But most of all, I am grateful that due to luck, and when and where I was born, it's not me or my family experiencing such terrible things.
Stand strong, do what you can! "