A UKRAINIAN refugee has captured the hearts of staff in a hotel kitchen where she started working this week.

Krystina Kobzar, 28, has been taken on as a pastry chef at The Castle at Taunton.

She has already proved to be a huge asset and colleagues in the team all look up to her.

She and her son Oleksandr, aka Sash, aged 10, have settled in with Natalie Dyson and her family, who took them into their home this month after they fled the atrocities in their own country.

Krystina has spoke to the County Gazette about the love shown to her and Sasha since they arrived in the county town, although she is unable to escape the sadness of the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine.

She said: "I really love Taunton. It's not very big. It's just what we need. Natalie has been so kind.

"Seeing the blue and yellow umbrellas hanging in Castle Bow and flags around the town in shops and home helps me see my home.

"The Castle is very beautiful and reminds me of Sherlock Holmes.

"I've had a good welcome, but I cry with Natalie every day. She helps me with everything.

"I miss Ukraine. Every day I speak with my family.

"My husband Artem is in the reserves. He's in Kyiv. I hope he'll be safe, but maybe he will go as a soldier to fight.

"I watch the news every day. I can't explain why people don't like Ukraine, why Russian soldiers are killing people like animals, including little babies."

While Krystina is at work, Sasha attends Trinity Primary School.

"He isn't used to eating so many vegetables and would like more sausages, but he loves scones," said Krystina, who was in Faversham and Sandwich last summer picking fruit. "And I really love beautiful English puddings and Yorkshire pudding.

"English food is very different for us.

"When I need an ingredient I need to translate.

"But when I need help in the kitchen, everyone helps me. I'm very happy at work.

"He likes the children at school particularly the girls.

"My sister and cousins and a friend are coming to England too."

Despite the brilliant welcome she has received, Krystina quite naturally pines for her homeland.

"I'm very happy here, but I want to go home," she said.

"I miss my husband and our dog (Yorkshire terrier Lucy) is in quarantine for 20 weeks. I want to be back with my family when the war finishes."

Ronan Hunter, general manager at The Castle, jumped at the chance to employ Krystina, who has a background in catering and hospitality in Ukraine and who spent a year working in a kitchen in Russia.

"She mixes well with the other staff and everyone in our team looks up to her," said Mr Hunter.

"We're happy to have found somebody with the skills set and life experience she has.

"She shows huge strength and fortitude after what she has been through.

"Any business that's offered the opportunity would want to take on somebody who's been through this sort of journey.

Castle executive head chef Andrew Swann said: "We are very excited to welcome Krystina into our kitchen.

"Her experiences can only benefit the team we have here.

"The guys already have an admiration for the journey she has been through to arrive with us and look forward to working with her.”

The hotel employs another Ukrainian refugee, 16-year-old Evelina Korchak, who works part time as front of house and also studies hospitality at Bridgwater and Taunton College.

Evelina is staying with Julie and Rory O'Donnell.