THE charity chief of a Ukrainian aid charity based in Dorset has begun to collect aid for Poland after it has been devastated by floods.

Karol Swiacki founded Ukraine Relief following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022.

Two-and-a-half years on from the initial invasion, Karol and his charity continue to send convoys to Ukraine but have announced that in the wake of the floods in Central Europe, it will begin to send aid to Poland.

Thousands have been displaced in Poland after storm Boris has flooded central Europe with 44,000 residents told to evacuate Polish city, Nysa.

Karol said: "Since Friday last week, there has been tons and tons of rain and hundreds of thousands of people are suffering because the water has flooded entire cities in the south of Poland.

"We are taking donations for those who have lost everything. They have no food, no water, no supplies. The water smashed everything."

Still focussed on Ukraine, the charity will take temporary action to help those in Poland by taking separate donations from those for Ukraine.

Sending trucks bi-weekly, the charity hopes to get the first convoy of aid to Poland in the next two weeks which it will drop off on its way to Ukraine.

Karol said: "It's a huge disaster for the whole south of Poland. It's not only Poland but because we've got the capabilities to send a truck there, we can help people.

"We can't physically be there but at least we ca support them mentally and send physical help and some money if possible."

Ukraine Aid has worked out a warehouse at Castlepoint since it was created.

Asked if it has received donations since the campaign began, Karol shared that the public, both British and Polish, have been incredibly helpful.

He said: "We are always united as we've been united for the Ukraine war. If anything happens to Polish people, the British always come along and help us and its the same the other way around.

"We are just like brothers and sisters."

The public has been asked to leave donations on Tuesday-Thursday from 10am-4pm.