Tributes paid to mother killed in crash after fleeing war in Ukraine

Tributes have been paid to a 40-year-old woman who was killed in a crash in South Wales at the end of last month after escaping the war in Ukraine.

Tetiana Martynova, from Kharkiv, died in a collision on the A4067 Neath Road, in the Morriston area of Swansea, on Wednesday January 31.

Ms Martynova was in the UK after fleeing Ukraine when Russia invaded in February 2022.

Her hosts, who supported her in the UK, paid tribute to her, describing her as being like a daughter to them both.

They said she was a “stalwart of the Ukrainian community in Swansea” with a warm and pleasant personality “that permeated every gathering”.

In a statement shared by South Wales Police, Ms Martynova’s hosts, who have not been named, said: “Tetiana (known locally as Tania) had fled her native city, Kharkiv, in Ukraine due to the ongoing war, along with her 13-year-old son, and arrived in Swansea in July 2022.

“Tania was an impressive woman, multilingual, intelligent, high-flying, hard-working, committed and diligent in her tender care of Illia.

“She was driven to scholastic achievement here in Swansea, building on her Ukrainian excellence in accountancy with further qualifications and working so hard for a local Swansea company utilising her impressive range of skills.

“She was a stalwart of the Ukrainian community in Swansea, playing her full part in all their social and cultural activities, marking the continued defiance of her nation.

“Her warm and pleasant personality permeated every gathering.

“Lives here in Wales were hugely enriched by knowing Tania. Her numerous friends and work colleagues are all devastated by her sudden passing.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Illia here in Wales, and Tania’s family back in Ukraine.

“Tania’s dream of returning to Ukraine this summer will sadly now not be realised.

“We are all grateful to the emergency services at the scene of this terrible accident for their diligence and care, and also for the supreme professionalism of the medical and nursing care on the critical care unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

“Huge thanks to all. We are devastated. Our hearts are broken.

“Tania became like a daughter to us both. Our tears flow for a remarkable young woman. Ukraine has lost one of its finest.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash or anyone with dashcam footage who may have seen the collision or events leading up to it to contact them via 101 quoting reference 2400036408.