A group in the city of Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, has presented money to a Ukrainian family who fled their home country to the city.

The Kiryu International Exchange Association gave 500,000 yen, or about 4,000 dollars, to Nataliya Kubik at the city hall on Wednesday. The 66-year-old lived in the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine.

Kubik fled to Poland following the Russian invasion. On March 26, she moved with four relatives to Kiryu, where her daughter, Svitlana Ozhibko, lives.

The five now live in Ozhibko's apartment.

The city of Kiryu says it will look into concrete support plans, including education and employment, taking into account the family's requests.

Kubik said she is grateful for the kindness. She said she had visited Japan several times before and she likes the country. She expressed hope that she will visit many places and find a job.

Kiryu Mayor Araki Keiji attended the ceremony. He said the evacuees must be suffering mentally and have pains and sorrows. He said he and others hope to do what they can.