Chapel created by 1940s Ukrainian POWs transformed into donation center for refugees

By Sarah Ward via SWNS

A chapel created by Ukrainian prisoners of war in the 1940s is being used to collect donations for refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.

The Hallmuir Prisoner of War Camp in Lockerbie, Scotland, was built in 1942 to house up to 450 German and Italian prisoners.

In 1947, a corrugated iron hut was transformed into a beautifully decorated chapel by Ukrainian PoWs.

Some 465 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered to the British and were put in a camp in Italy, before they were moved to Scotland - where many remained after the war ended.

Volunteers at Hallmuir Ukrainian POW Chapel.(Katielee Arrowsmith via SWNS)

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The chapel is now overflowing with donations for refugees made homeless by the Russian invasion - but organizers are asking for products including pet food and yoga mats, as well as sweets to cheer up young children, to make life more comfortable.

Some volunteers wore face masks made from the Ukrainian flag, as they sorted donations into boxes to be transported by truck at the weekend.

Dad-of-one Stefan Danczak, 53, was born in Scotland but his father is Ukrainian, and he describes himself as a nationalist.

The audiologist, who lives in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, has been part of a collection drive that will transport goods to Poland.

He said he was touched by the generosity of people who had no connection with Ukraine, and said the war was an "assault on democracy."

Stefan said: "I still have family in Ukraine, they are safe at the moment.

"I've always felt more Ukrainian than from anywhere else.

"I've always been very nationalistic, we campaigned for independence up until I was 20, and in 1991 we got independence from Russia.

"It's so unpredictable, I think Putin is trying to build a legacy for himself.

"People around the world and here in Scotland who are not Ukrainian, are standing in support of Ukraine.

"What we are doing is collecting for the refugees, who are over the border in Poland.

"They are mostly women and children, a lot of the men are staying behind to fight.

"The thing that seems to hit home is this is in Europe.

"It's on our doorstep.

"I think it's galvanized a lot of people, I think it's sprung people into action."

The first load of goods will be dispatched on Saturday, and plans are for it to become a weekly initiative.

Stefan added: "We want things like nappies, sanitary products, toiletries, pet food, a lot of people didn't want to leave the family dog behind.

"Even sending packets of sweets out for little kids.

"It's not so much clothes, people in other communities are sending out clothes.

"Sleeping bags are light, portable, and waterproof.

"Yoga mats make sleeping more comfortable.

"Everybody is chipping in ideas.

"It's not just about survival, it's making it bearable.

"I think Ukraine will prevail, but I am looking at pictures of places I visited, thinking 'oh my god.'

"It's not ordinary Russians, it's this madman Putin - even the conscripts don't believe in it.

"It's an assault on democracy."