Just over a year ago, Milena Bezrutchenko was making plans for the birth of her second child.

Baby Dmitriy was expected to be born at the hospital nearest their home close to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. 

But the Russian invasion of the country put paid to her best laid maternity plans. 

Four months later, her son was born almost 1,500 miles away in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N). 

And the birthplace was not the only plan that changed. His name did too. 

Eastern Daily Press: The Bezrutchenko family with Peter and Teresa Barton - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyThe Bezrutchenko family with Peter and Teresa Barton - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of family)

Paying thanks to former prime minister, Boris Johnson, for allowing Ukrainians to seek refuge in Britain, he was named Dmitriy-Johnson. 

Mrs Bezrutchenko’s labour was just one of the dramatic moments in what has been a tumultuous year for the entrepreneur, who fled to Norfolk following the invasion. 

For the past 12 months, she has lived in Cawston in north Norfolk with her 14-year-old daughter, Vlada

Eastern Daily Press: The original Facebook message Milena shared when the family left Ukraine - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyThe original Facebook message Milena shared when the family left Ukraine - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of family)

English lessons continue to play a role in their everyday lives, and they will sit with who they call their "British family”, Peter and Teresa Barton, practicing and perfecting. 

And with baby Dmitriy bouncing on his mother’s lap, Vlada is now the one correcting pronunciation.

But this idyllic image is a far cry from their situation a year ago. 

Eastern Daily Press: Peter on the ferry with the Bezrutchenko family - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyPeter on the ferry with the Bezrutchenko family - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of family)

On February 24, Mrs Bezrutchenko, 39, was forced to flee Ukraine after war broke out. 

They watched as smoke rose into the sky following two explosions a mile from their home.

“That day, I woke up a different person,” she said. 

She left behind everything she knew, including her parents, mother-in-law, and husband Misha, 31, who was forced to stay in Ukraine. 

Eastern Daily Press: Milena Bezrutchenko with her newborn baby at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyMilena Bezrutchenko with her newborn baby at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of the family)

The couple had been in the final stages of opening a restaurant they have named in homage to the village the family call their second home - Cawston Burger Meat Bar.

She shared a post on Facebook appealing for help and it was quickly picked up by the Barton's. 

“But I told her, ‘Teresa, I am eight months pregnant’, but she told me it did not matter,” Mrs Bezrutchenko said. 

Eastern Daily Press: Misha Bezrutchenko holding his son, Dmitriy, for the first time - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyMisha Bezrutchenko holding his son, Dmitriy, for the first time - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of the family)

Mr Barton, 59, a self-employed independent financial advisor, flew to meet the family at Prague airport and then drove back in their car, an experience he described as “surreal”. 

For the Bezrutchenko family, it was a lifeline.  

They had already travelled more than 2,500km, of which five days were spent fleeing Ukraine. Mrs Bezrutchenko then spent a week in hospital in Slovakia. 

But six weeks later, Mrs Barton would be holding her hand at the maternity unit, acting as her maternity partner for when baby Dmitriy arrived. 

Eastern Daily Press: Baby Dmitriy meeting his maternal grandparents for the first time, near Kyiv - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyBaby Dmitriy meeting his maternal grandparents for the first time, near Kyiv - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of family)

Mrs Bezrutchenko has since returned to Ukraine a handful of times. During the first visit her husband was able to meet his then four-month-old son. 

She said: “When the war broke out, I felt empty inside. When we heard there might be a war, I thought it would be stopped. When that didn’t happen, I felt numb. 

“We had such a normal life before this. It’s crazy. This should not be happening.” 

Mrs Bezrutchenko revealed that she is on a final warning from Instagram before she is given a permanent ban for posting her views about the war. 

Eastern Daily Press: Vlada is hoping to rebuild her country - Picture: Bezrutchenko familyVlada is hoping to rebuild her country - Picture: Bezrutchenko family (Image: Courtesy of family)

Mrs Barton, 68, added: “She’s a fighter. As far as we are concerned, they are welcome here as long as they like.” 

And teenager Vlada also continues to inspire and amaze. 

Now a pupil at Reepham High, her mum revealed that initially it had been a struggle to get her on the bus in the mornings. 

Now, she has found a passion for art and is hoping to become either an architect or structural engineer "to go home and rebuild" Ukraine.