Some 16 performers have joined a British circus under the government refugee scheme for Ukrainians.
Ukrainian circus performers who escaped their war-torn country said they were relieved to reach the safety of their "second-family" in a British circus.
Under the Homes for Ukrainians scheme, Circus Cortex gave refuge to 16 people who had spent three months hiding from Russian forces.Circus dancer Tetiana Lotiuk, 23, was caught in Kharkiv when war broke out and said it was good to have a focus.Separated from friends and family, she travelled for days going without sleep and food to reach the safety of Circus Cortex.
"Every day was worse and worse. Every night was worse and worse, and every day I was more exhausted," she said."I was scared to sleep at night because I was afraid that I would not hear any sirens or explosions and just not wake up the next morning."Unicyclist Viktor Gorodetskyy was given special leave to flee Ukraine with his wife and son, who also perform in the circus.
Circus co-founder Irina Archer, whose parents are Russian and Ukrainian, said she made it her mission to get as many acts and their families over to the UK as she could.She said: "This is what they love doing and the more they're not thinking about the bad things, it's better for their mental health.Ms Lotiuk agreed. "It's quite hard to go on stage and to have a big happy smile and entertain people, because my mind is on those in Ukraine, and so is my heart.