AN EASTERN European artist who believes war veterans are treated better in her home country is raising money for injured British troops.

Elena Hewitt Samson, from Blackbird Leys, Oxford, but originally from the former Soviet republic of Belarus, remembers the Soviet War in Afghanistan when thousands of Belarusian soldiers were forced to fight.

Between 1979 and 1989, the Soviet Union joined the communist government in Kabul in fighting against Islamic Mujahideen.

The artist said the memories inspired her to raise money for injured British servicemen and women with her paintings.

She said: “In Belarus veterans from the Afghan war are treated with more respect.

“It is different because they were told they had to fight. But they went there for the state, now it is the state’s turn to look after them.

“Veterans are given first refusal on social housing and they are given free travel on buses. The government has also set up a special trust fund for their medical care.

“I would like to raise money for the people who come home to England injured in order to support them as I feel they are not looked after as well.”

The mother-of-one has taken inspiration for the six paintings from photographs sent to her by ex-servicemen and women, from books and from her own imagination.

Her favourite is a painting featuring a field of poppies, the symbol for remembering fallen soldiers, and a cross.

An auction of the paintings will be held later today at the Prince of Wales pub in Church Way, Iffley, Oxford, for Help for Heroes.

The charity gives money to provide practical, direct support for the country’s wounded soldiers. The event starts at 7pm with the auction at 8pm. Captain Mark Thompson, of the Royal Logistics Corps, at Dalton Barracks will be auctioneer.